An alleged Miami gang member has been arrested on charges linked to a bank fraud scheme targeting an elderly man in the Florida Keys, according to officials. Sheldon Adams Vandyke, 26, identified as a member of the "Any Body Killer" or "ABK" gang, is accused of scamming an 84-year-old out of nearly $20,000, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office reported. Vandyke was taken into custody at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport after returning from Belize.
The Monroe County Sheriff's Office initiated an investigation in October when the victim reported a phony call from someone purporting to be a Bank of America representative, NBC Miami said. The senior citizen was led to believe there were issues with his bank account, resulting in him providing personal banking information, and subsequently, the loss of about $19,800. Security footage later implicated Vandyke using ATMs to attempt withdrawals from an account he set up with the stolen funds.
"This is a great example of law enforcement partners working together to solve a difficult case," Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay stated, expressing gratitude towards the collaborating Criminal Investigations Unit for their role in the case's progression. The arrest of Vandyke represents concerted efforts between the Monroe County Sheriff's Office and multiple law enforcement entities, as reported by CBS Miami.
The Miami Police Department Gangs Intelligence Unit has confirmed Vandyke as a known member of the criminal gang ABK, with no known legitimate source of income, CBS Miami reported. He now faces a felony charge of scheming to defraud a person over 65 and is being held on a $75,000 bond. Authorities, meanwhile, are working closely with banking officials in an effort to recover the stolen money from the elderly victim.
