National Smash-and-Grab ID Theft Ring Targeted Putnam County

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — Putnam County was one of the targets of a national gang of criminals who traveled across the country breaking into cars, often choosing those parked by women at locations such as health and fitness centers, daycares, outdoor recreational parks, and dog parks, according to federal prosecutors and 14 New York law enforcement agencies including the Putnam County Sheriff's Office.

Between 2015 and 2020, members of the conspiracy stole debit cards, credit cards, checkbooks, and photo identifications in these “smash-and-grab” vehicle thefts, and they used these stolen items to commit bank fraud by recruiting women to impersonate the smash-and-grab victims in drive-through bank lanes and cash checks.

The recruited check-cashers almost always suffered from an addiction to controlled substances and were provided payment at least partially in narcotics, prosecutors said.

Two leaders of the "Felony Lane Gang" — Joshua Mallory, 37, and Gary Grier, 36, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida — pleaded guilty the first week in January in federal court in Syracuse to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.

The charges to which Mallory and Grier pled guilty carry a minimum sentence of 2 years in prison, a maximum sentence of 30 years, a fine of up to $1 million, and a supervised release term of up to 5 years.

Mallory will be sentenced on May 1, and Grier will be sentenced on April 19. A defendant’s sentence is imposed by a judge based on the statute the defendant is charged with violating, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other factors.

Mallory and Grier were among nine men charged in a 13-count indictment for their roles in the scheme, including two New York State residents.

Keyshawn Arnold, 25, of Schenectady and Terrell McDonald, 32, of Troy, pleaded guilty for their roles, as did Tyrone Parker, 40, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The remaining co-defendants are:

• TYRONE PARKER, JR. a/k/a “Ty,” a/k/a “Cheese,” a/k/a “Little Thigh,” 22, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida
• RANDALL TAYLOR, a/k/a “Gucci,” a/k/a “Guwop,” age 37, of Fort Lauderdale
• CEDRIC LYNCH, a/k/a “City,” a/k/a “C,” age 37, of Orlando, Florida
• ROBERT NATSON, a/k/a “Big Rob,” age 36, of Fort Lauderdale

Each of the remaining defendants is charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and/or aggravated identity theft. They are scheduled for trial in federal court in Syracuse on Jan. 24.

This is a multi-state investigation, according to an announcement from United States Attorney Carla B. Freedman; Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Putnam County Sheriff Kevin J. McConville.

Investigators with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office were involved in the case due to many larcenies and bank fraud cases throughout Putnam County, going back to around 2018. They worked closely with the FBI Task Force members and local and state police agencies across the country, McConville said.

Other New York law enforcement agencies involved include the State Police; Columbia County Sheriff's Office; Genesee County Sheriff’s Office; Monroe County Sheriff’s Office; Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office; Warren County Sheriff’s Office; and the police departments of the Town of Bethlehem; Glens Falls; Gloversville; Greenburgh; Greece; and Watervliet.

Assistance also came from the FBI Field Offices in Albany, Miami, and Salt Lake City, and Resident Agencies in Savannah, Georgia, and Portland, Maine, and from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine, the Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office, and the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office.

Also it came from the Connecticut State Police; Florida Department of Law Enforcement; Georgia State Patrol; Illinois State Police; Massachusetts State Police; Broward County, FL Sheriff’s Office; Northern York County, PA Regional Police; Southern Chester County, PA Regional Police; Utah County, UT Sheriff's Office; and the police departments of Auburn, MA; Bath, ME; Biddeford, ME; Bozeman, MT; Brunswick, ME; Caernarvon Township, PA; Chester Township, PA; Cinnaminson, NJ; Darien, CT; East Norriton Township, PA; Easthampton, MA; Greenwich, CT; Lower Moreland Township, PA; Manheim Township, PA; Portland, ME; Portsmouth, NH; Saco, ME; Salisbury, MA; Sanford, ME; Scarborough, ME; Somersworth, NH; South Portland, ME; St. George, UT; Syracuse, UT; Tinicum, PA; Towamencin, PA; Tewksbury, MA; Wakefield, MA; Yarmouth, ME; and York, ME.