Leader of Belle Glade Based Bank Fraud Conspiracy Pleads Guilty

MIAMI - The leader of a bank fraud conspiracy pleaded guilty on Dec. 21.

Ja’kevious Ri’shaad Vickers, Gregory Bernard Ashley Jr., and Naim W. Kahook were involved in a bank fraud conspiracy involving stolen checks, theft of personal identifying information, and the production of fraudulent or fake checks.

On Dec. 21, Vickers pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft before U.S. Magistrate Judge William Matthewman. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 14, 2024. Vickers faces a mandatory minimum term of two years in prison, to run consecutively to a statutory term of up to 30 years in prison.

Ashley and Kahook each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud on Dec. 14 and Dec. 21, respectively. Ashley and Kahook are also scheduled to be sentenced on March 14, 2024. Ashley and Kahook each face up to 30 years in federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI, Miami Field Office, and Sheriff Ric Bradshaw of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) announced the guilty pleas.

The FBI Miami, West Palm Beach Resident Agency and PBSO investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marton Gyires is prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jorge Roberto Delgado is handling asset forfeiture.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 23-cr-80185.

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