Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Two Florida women sentenced in fraud case
FAYETTEVILLE — Two Florida residents were sentenced to federal prison this week for cashing forged checks in Northwest Arkansas.
Kaley Williams, 29, of Daytona Beach, Fla., and Michelle Jackson, 51, of Pompano Beach, Fla., pleaded guilty to one charge each of bank fraud. Williams was sentenced to three years and 10 months followed by three years of supervised release. Jackson was sentenced to two years followed by three years of supervised release.
Williams was ordered to pay restitution of $42,744. Jackson was ordered to pay $21,116 in restitution.
Williams and Jackson were part of a nationwide group known as the “Felony Lane Gang.” The group traveled from Florida to Arkansas and Iowa and the male co-conspirators broke into vehicles parked at fitness centers, day cares, trailheads and other areas, stealing checks, checkbooks, credit cards, driver’s licenses, and other identification.
They would then forge the stolen checks making them payable to other people whose identification they previously stolen. Using the stolen identification, the female members would cash the forged checks at drivethrough windows at various banks.
Other cells of the Felony Lane Gang have committed fraud across the country, according to prosecutors.
Williams and Jackson were indicted in October and both entered guilty pleas in December.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, and the Rogers, Fayetteville, Lowell, Springdale, Bentonville and Jonesboro police departments.
U.S. District Judge Timothy L. Brooks presided over the sentencing hearings. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Driver prosecuted the case.