BALTIMORE, MD – Tara Kathleen Whyte, 30, of Hollywood, Florida, and Gambrills, Maryland, is headed to federal prison for her role in a sprawling, multi-state bank fraud conspiracy linked to the infamous “Felony Lane Gang.” Whyte was sentenced to 54 months followed by 3 years of supervised release on November 2, 2017, by U.S. District Judge Marvin J. Garbis, and ordered to pay $77,422.06 in restitution.
The sentencing caps a lengthy investigation spearheaded by the U.S. Secret Service – Baltimore Field Office, alongside a coalition of Maryland law enforcement agencies including the Maryland National Capital Park Police (Montgomery & Prince George’s County Divisions), Howard County Police Department, Baltimore County Police Department, and Anne Arundel County Police Department. Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Stephen M. Schenning announced the verdict, revealing the scope of the operation.
Whyte was identified as one of thirteen individuals involved in the “Felony Lane Gang,” a nomadic crew that systematically targeted vehicles parked at recreation areas, gyms, and other vulnerable locations. They weren’t after the cars themselves, but the wallets, purses, and identification left inside. The gang then exploited the stolen contents, using checks, credit cards, and IDs to execute fraudulent financial transactions across multiple states.
The scheme, active from September 2012 through July 2015, relied on a disturbing dynamic: exploiting the vulnerable. According to the 27-count indictment, Whyte and her co-conspirators recruited prostitutes, drug addicts, and others desperate for quick cash to act as “faces” – individuals who would pass the fraudulent checks and impersonate the victims. These “workers” were compensated with drugs, food, and meager cash payments, a tiny fraction of the value of the stolen funds. The gang often equipped these individuals with wigs and glasses to better resemble the people whose identities they were stealing.
Whyte isn’t the only member facing consequences. Courtney B. Walker, 29, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, received 54 months. James J. Blakey, 30, also of Ft. Lauderdale, got 57 months. Vincent Lee Sands, 27, of Lauderhill, was sentenced to 42 months. Tracy Lee Whyte, 36, of Hollywood and Gambrills, also received 54 months. Shannon Elise Isley, 31, of Sunrise, Florida, was sentenced to 48 months, while Lauren Anne Bole, 30, of Miramar, Florida, received 26 months. Felicia Kaye Waybright, 28, of Daytona Beach, Florida, was sentenced to 31 months, and Amie Nicole Carter, 33, of Casselberry, Florida, received time served (7 months). Additional guilty pleas are pending sentencing.
The gang’s brazen operation resulted in over $1 million in fraudulent transactions and attempted losses from more than a dozen financial institutions, impacting hundreds of individual victims. The Maryland Identity Theft Working Group, active since 2006, played a critical role in coordinating the investigation and prosecution of this complex identity theft scheme, demonstrating a concerted effort to dismantle this criminal network and bring its members to justice.
Related Federal Cases
- Markis J. Dickerson, Bank Fraud Conspiracy, VA 2024 · North Carolina
- Solomon Ekunke Okpe, Wire, Bank, Mail Fraud Conspiracy, Arizona 2017 · New Mexico
- Jerjuan Joyner, Bank Fraud Conspiracy, New York 2021 · New Hampshire
- Deon O. Noel, Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud, Cincinnati OH, 2019 · Arizona
- Richard Shusterman, Wire Fraud Conspiracy, Maryland 2024 · Pennsylvania
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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