A Miami woman was charged for a second time and accused of finessing Regions Bank out of $75,000 through a complex vehicle loan scam. Brianna Rain Kruse, 23, was arrested Tuesday following investigations into her purportedly fraudulent activities, according to Local 10 News.
Police allege that Kruse initially attempted to extract around $50,000 from the bank on Aug. 21. She tried, according to WIOD, using an identity theft victim's personal information to secure a vehicle loan. Kruse was arrested while trying to get a bank-issued cashier's check made out to Auto Advantage, LLC—a company police say she created under the identity theft victim's name.
Police uncovered that Kruse's purported schemes were even more lucrative than first thought. She managed to swindle $75,000 in May by acquiring a car loan for a new Mercedes-Benz using another unsuspecting individual's data. The loan was approved, and a cashier's check was issued to "Luxury Motor Club", yet another shell company Kruse had set up, as detailed by investigators.
In a twist, a personal check from Key Bank amounting to $100,000 was sent to the Luxury Motor Club account on July 13, which was later returned unpaid as the true account holder denied ever having issued it, Local 10 News reported.
Kruse is facing grand theft charges, fraudulent use of ID information, and making false statements to the Department of State.
