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SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Tyrone Parker, age 40, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, pled guilty today in federal court in Syracuse to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Putnam County Sheriff Kevin J. McConville.

In pleading guilty, Parker, whose aliases include “Tyron Parker” and “Thigh,” admitted that he was involved in a fraud scheme known as “Felony Lane Gang” between July 2019 and September 2020. Parker and his co-conspirators traveled across the country breaking into cars, often targeting those parked by women at locations such as health and fitness centers, daycares, outdoor recreational parks, and dog parks.  After committing these “smash-and-grab” vehicle thefts, Parker and other members of the conspiracy stole debit cards, credit cards, checkbooks, and photo identifications, which they later used to commit bank fraud by recruiting women to impersonate the smash-and-grab victims in drive-through bank lanes and cash checks. The recruited check cashers were almost always suffering from an addiction to controlled substances and were provided payment at least partially in narcotics. Parker admitted that the loss amount from the conspiracy attributable to him is between $95,000 and $150,000, over a 15-month period.

The charges to which Parker pled guilty carry a minimum sentence of 2 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 30 years, a fine of up to $1 million, and a supervised release term of up to 5 years. Parker will be sentenced on August 15, 2022 by Senior United States District Judge Norman A. Mordue. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the particular statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other factors.

Parker was one of nine men charged in a 13-count indictment for their roles in the scheme. Keyshawn Arnold, age 25, of Schenectady, New York, previously pled guilty for his role in the indictment. The remaining co-defendants are:

• TYRONE PARKER, JR. a/k/a “Ty,” a/k/a “Cheese,” a/k/a “Little Thigh,” age 22, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida;
• JOSHUA MALLORY, a/k/a “P,” a/k/a “Pudge,” age 37, of Fort Lauderdale;
• RANDALL TAYLOR, a/k/a “Gucci,” a/k/a “Guwop,” age 35, of Fort Lauderdale;
• CEDRIC LYNCH, a/k/a “City,” a/k/a “C,” age 37, of Orlando, Florida;
• TERRELL MCDONALD, a/k/a “Ruger,” a/k/a “Moon,” age 32, of Troy, New York;
• ROBERT NATSON, a/k/a “Big Rob,” age 36, of Fort Lauderdale; and
• GARY GRIER, a/k/a “G,” age 36, of Fort Lauderdale.

 

Each of these defendants is charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.  The charges in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants whose cases remain pending are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by the FBI Westchester Resident Agency of the New York Field Office and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, with assistance from the FBI Field Offices in Albany, Miami, and Salt Lake City, and Resident Agencies in Savannah, Georgia, and Portland, Maine, and from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine, the Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office, and the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office.  Additional assistance was provided by numerous law enforcement agencies, including, within New York, the New York State Police; Columbia County Sheriff’s Office; Genesee County Sheriff’s Office; Monroe County Sheriff’s Office; Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office; Warren County Sheriff’s Office; and the police departments of the Town of Bethlehem; Glens Falls; Gloversville; Greenburgh; Greece; and Watervliet; and elsewhere, Connecticut State Police; Florida Department of Law Enforcement; Georgia State Patrol; Illinois State Police; Massachusetts State Police; Broward County, FL Sheriff’s Office; Northern York County, PA Regional Police; Southern Chester County, PA Regional Police; Utah County, UT Sheriff’s Office; and the police departments of Auburn, MA; Bath, ME; Biddeford, ME; Bozeman, MT; Brunswick, ME; Caernarvon Township, PA; Chester Township, PA; Cinnaminson, NJ; Darien, CT; East Norriton Township, PA; Easthampton, MA; Greenwich, CT; Lower Moreland Township, PA; Manheim Township, PA; Portland, ME; Portsmouth, NH; Saco, ME; Salisbury, MA; Sanford, ME; Scarborough, ME; Somersworth, NH; South Portland, ME; St. George, UT; Syracuse, UT; Tinicum, PA; Towamencin, PA; Tewksbury, MA; Wakefield, MA; Yarmouth, ME; and York, ME.

The case was initiated by former Assistant United States Attorney Andrew D. Beaty and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Matthew J. McCrobie and Michael F. Perry.