Kiana Fiona Alphonse, Aggravated Identity Theft and Bank Fraud, Florida 2023

Jacksonville, Florida – In a shocking turn of events, Kiana Fiona Alphonse (29, Covington, Georgia) has pleaded guilty to a string of serious charges, including aggravated identity theft and bank fraud. The devastating scheme, which has left numerous victims reeling, has been the subject of a lengthy investigation by law enforcement agencies.

According to court documents and public records, the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) first stumbled upon the case in 2019 when they stopped a car driven by Alphonse’s co-conspirator, Anthony Jermaine Robinson (31, Covington, Georgia). A search of the vehicle turned up a plethora of counterfeit documents, including Social Security cards and driver licenses in the identity of genuine individuals, as well as credit cards and multiple phones.

A subsequent search warrant was executed on Robinson’s cellphone, which revealed a trail of incriminating text messages between him and Alphonse. The messages outlined the details of their scheme, which involved using fraudulent business documents and identification to set up fake bank accounts. The accounts were then used to defraud multiple victims, including online purchases of nonexistent cars.

The investigation revealed that Alphonse and Robinson had obtained the personally identifiable information (PII) of multiple victims, which they used to create counterfeit driver licenses and Social Security numbers. They then used these documents to set up the fake bank accounts, which were used to funnel money from the victims into their own pockets.

The devastating consequences of Alphonse and Robinson’s actions have left numerous victims facing financial ruin. The court has ordered Alphonse to pay restitution to the victims she and Robinson defrauded, but the exact amount is still unknown.

Alphonse is facing a minimum mandatory penalty of 2 years in federal prison on the aggravated identity theft charges, as well as up to 30 years in federal prison for each count of bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Her sentencing date has not yet been set.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of identity theft and bank fraud. The public is urged to remain vigilant and take steps to protect themselves from falling victim to such schemes.

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