(Richmond, VA) - Givseppe Alonzo Hudson, age 28, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was sentenced today by United States District Judge Henry E. Hudson to 102 months of imprisonment for his role in a bank fraud and identity theft scheme. His sentence today includes a consecutive term of twenty-four months' imprisonment mandated by his conviction for Aggravated Identity Theft. He was also ordered to pay a total of $313,410.00 in restitution. Chuck Rosenberg, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia announced the sentence.

On December 3, 2007, defendant Hudson pled guilty to his involvement in a conspiracy to commit bank fraud and identity theft. Hudson has acknowledged that beginning in September 2006, he and his co-conspirators would steal identification documents, credit cards, and check books from female victims and negotiate the stolen checks at bank drive-through lanes. While the stolen checks were being negotiated, a member of the conspiracy would drive a rented "blocking vehicle" through the lane closest to the teller. The occupants of this vehicle would engage in a dialogue with the bank teller to distract the teller's attention from the fraudulent transaction being conducted in the farthest lane by a female member of the organization. The member typically wore a wig to match the hair color of the photo on the stolen identification being used in the transaction. Because of the means used to cash the stolen checks, the members of the organization came to refer to themselves as the "Felony Lane Gang."
In addition to Hudson, the six other defendants have pled guilty and were sentenced to the
following:

• Sterling Rashad Higdon, age 26, of Plantation, Florida, was sentenced on March 17, 2008, to 24 months' imprisonment, and ordered to pay $27,000.00 in restitution for conspiracy to commit bank fraud;
• Uwevon Shawn Doctor, age 26, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was sentenced on March 10, 2008, to 111 months' imprisonment, and ordered to pay $313,410.00 in restitution for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft;
• Tuwah Grant, age 25, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was sentenced on March 6, 2008, to 65 months' imprisonment, and ordered to pay $98,675.00 in restitution for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft;
• Cameron Striggles, age 25, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was sentenced on March 5, 2008, to 42 months' imprisonment, and ordered to pay $16,300.00 in restitution for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft;
• Melvin Mosley, age 25, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was sentenced on January 17, 2008, to 60 months' imprisonment, and ordered to pay $313,410.00 in restitution for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft; and
• Tracy L. Hays, age 36, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was sentenced on February 26, 2008, to 58 months' imprisonment, and ordered to pay $313,410.00 in restitution for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

The case was investigated by law enforcement officers from the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Chesterfield Police Department and the Henrico County Division of Police as members of the Metro-Richmond Identity Theft Task Force. In addition, members of the Ashland Police Department participated in the joint investigation. Other member agencies of the Task Force include: the United States Secret Service; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Bureau of Diplomatic Security, U.S. Department of State. Federal prosecutions for the Task Force are handled by the United States Attorney's Office and the Office of the Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Virginia. For more information on the Task Force, including assistance for victims of identity theft, visit:

www.richmondIDtheft.com

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laura C. Marshall and Special Assistant United States Attorney and Senior Assistant Virginia Attorney General David W. Tooker.