This case marked a notable strategic shift in how local and federal law enforcement tackle violent street-level groups, leaning heavily on white-collar financial tracking to dismantle local networks.
The indictments, unsealed by U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe, charged 12 individuals associated with the Lakeland-based “Hood Boys” gang with federal wire fraud for executing a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan scheme.
The Origin: From Street Violence to Auditing
According to Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor, the investigation originally stemmed from a violent January 2023 drive-by shooting in Lakeland that left 11 people wounded. While tracking the gang members involved in the shooting, detectives stumbled upon suspicious financial records and brought in federal partners to trace the money.
“We didn’t go into this shooting looking for PPP fraud, but when we found it, we certainly made a phone call to our federal partners.” — Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor
The Fraud Scheme
Federal prosecutors revealed that the defendants collectively stole approximately $236,000 in federal pandemic relief funds intended to keep legitimate local businesses afloat during COVID-19.
- The Method: The defendants submitted fraudulent PPP loan applications under the CARES Act, fabricating fake business entities and falsifying payroll records. Department of Justice
- The Payout: Each individual received federal payouts ranging between $13,854 and $20,416. Department of Justice
- The Expenses: After executing searches at 11 separate locales in Lakeland, federal investigators found zero actual business footprints. Instead, the stolen funds were spent on car payments, clothing, investments, liquor, and firearms. FOX 13 Tampa Bay
- The Cover-up: To avoid repayment, several individuals submitted fraudulent applications to have the loans fully forgiven, while others defaulted entirely. Department of Justice
Individuals Indicted
The 9 unsealed indictments named 12 local residents:
| Defendant | Age | City of Residence |
|---|---|---|
| Khalid Preston | 29 | Lakeland |
| Nickolas Lavonsoa Brantley | 25 | Lakeland |
| Alexis Lafaye Flournoy | 34 | Lakeland |
| Quinton Lakeith Owens | 35 | Lakeland |
| Tinika Sykes | 35 | Lakeland |
| Richard James Grimes, Jr. | 39 | Lakeland |
| Kenny White | 31 | Lakeland |
| Anthony Grant | 31 | Lakeland |
| Jacquez Howard | 27 | Lakeland |
| Treasure Johnson | 28 | Lakeland |
| Letor’e Webster | 24 | Lakeland |
| Jamilah T’Asia Johnson | 25 | Winter Haven |
Law Enforcement’s “New Day” Strategy
U.S. Attorney Kehoe emphasized that street gangs are increasingly moving away from traditional street corner operations to exploit white-collar government programs because paper trails can be incredibly lucrative if left unchecked. However, using financial tracking removes complications like uncooperative witnesses or blurry surveillance videos.
The multi-agency investigation relied on cooperation between the Lakeland Police Department, the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General. It was funneled through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF)
Each of the 12 defendants faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison per count if convicted of wire fraud.