TAMPA, Fla. — Federal authorities have dismantled a large-scale bank fraud operation tied to the violent street gang known as the “Trap Boys,” arresting 19 individuals involved in a sophisticated conspiracy spanning several Florida cities.
United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced that the indictment of the gang members and their associates was unsealed, revealing charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud. Each defendant faces up to 30 years in federal prison if convicted on all charges.
The FBI and Polk County Sheriff’s Office initiated the investigation in 2023 after a string of retaliatory shootings between the Trap Boys and rival gangs in the Middle District of Florida. Authorities uncovered a trove of stolen financial materials, including checks, debit cards, and identification records, which exposed the gang’s involvement in a wide-reaching fraud operation.
The scheme began in July 2021 and ran through November 2023, targeting financial institutions, individuals, and businesses throughout Florida, including Tampa, Lakeland, Miami, and beyond. The gang used advanced software to alter checks, creating counterfeit checks and gaining access to bank account details and transaction histories. They also recruited accomplices to provide bank account information and debit cards, fueling the conspiracy.
The fraud impacted about 26 financial institutions and defrauded over 200 victims, including law firms, construction companies, public schools, and state agencies. Tampa-area businesses and residents were among those affected by the scheme.
Those arrested include Qornelious Campbell (31), Kenneth Cole II (25), Kenisha Coffer (25), D’Andranika Crews (20), and others, all residents of Polk County. The FBI and Polk County Sheriff’s Office coordinated the investigation as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) initiative, which aims to dismantle dangerous criminal organizations.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Diego F. Novaes, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
