MIAMI, FL – Kenny Terlent, 19, is cooling his heels in a federal detention center after a judge reversed an earlier ruling and denied him bond. The young man, allegedly tied to the 77th Street gang, faces a trifecta of federal charges: illegally possessing a machine gun, aggravated identity theft, and defrauding Covid-19 unemployment benefits programs. This isn’t a case of a few stolen bucks; it’s a full-blown exploitation of a crisis, coupled with dangerous firepower.
According to court documents, Terlent and his crew weren’t just applying for unemployment; they were building a scheme around stolen identities. The indictment details how they sourced names, social security numbers, and other sensitive personal data from the dark web and other illicit sources. Using this pilfered information, they filed fraudulent claims for benefits intended for those genuinely impacted by Covid-19 job losses. The money was then funneled into bank accounts controlled by the gang, a classic case of turning tragedy into profit.
The bust went down on June 24th when law enforcement attempted to serve a federal search warrant at Terlent’s residence. Terlent didn’t cooperate. He bolted, ditching his cell phone in a nearby lake in a desperate attempt to scrub evidence. It wasn’t enough. Divers recovered the phone, and a subsequent search revealed a treasure trove of stolen identity information. But that wasn’t all. Inside the home, officers discovered a stolen Glock 19 handgun rigged with an auto-sear device – commonly called a “switch.”
That “switch” is the key to the machine gun charge. It transforms a standard handgun into a fully automatic weapon, capable of firing multiple rounds with a single pull of the trigger. Terlent, predictably, lacks the necessary permit to legally possess such a device. The combination of the illegal firearm and the sophisticated fraud scheme paints a picture of a dangerous individual actively engaged in criminal activity. He is now charged with possessing 15 or more unauthorized access devices, aggravated identity theft, and the illegal possession of a machine gun.
The charges were announced jointly by Acting U.S. Attorney Juan Antonio Gonzalez, alongside Special Agents in Charge from the Secret Service (USSS), FBI, ATF, and local law enforcement. A multi-agency gang task force – including the Miami Divisions of USSS, FBI, and ATF, as well as the Miami-Dade and City of Miami Police Departments – brought the case to light. AUSA Frederic “Fritz” Shadley will be handling the prosecution.
This case is part of both Project Safe Neighborhoods, a nationwide initiative to reduce violent crime, and the Department of Justice’s broader effort to crack down on Covid-19 fraud. Anyone with information related to gun crimes is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. The feds are sending a clear message: exploiting a pandemic for personal gain, while simultaneously packing heat, won’t be tolerated. Terlent’s fate now rests with the courts, but the evidence suggests a lengthy stay behind bars is likely.
Related Federal Cases
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- Juan A. Tony Marrero, Medicare Fraud Scheme, Miami FL, 2024 · Florida
- Sean Anthony Lopez, $5.4M Tax Refund Fraud, Miami FL, 2023 · Florida
- Andy Lamour, Identity Theft Tax Refund Fraud, Miami FL, 2023 · Florida
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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