Rodrick Florence Jr., 35, from Atlanta, Georgia, has been sentenced to 72 months in federal prison for his role in a large bank fraud and identity theft ring that operated from 2021 to 2023. Florence admitted to leading a criminal conspiracy that used the personal information of over 7,500 individuals to steal money from their bank accounts.
Florence worked with others to make fake ID cards and bank cards that showed real people’s names and details. They then used those fake cards to get money from the victims’ bank accounts. The group made cash withdrawals and cashed fake checks at banks and credit unions in northwest Florida and other areas across the U.S.
One of the hardest-hit financial institutions was Navy Federal Credit Union. Florence and his team targeted over 250 members and stole more than $335,000 from their accounts using stolen identities. Their method was organized and carefully planned, making it hard to detect early on.
Sentencing and Jail Time for Conspirators
A federal court in Florida sentenced Rodrick Florence Jr. to 48 months in prison for bank fraud conspiracy, followed by a mandatory 24 months for aggravated identity theft. That adds up to 72 months behind bars. The announcement was made by John P. Heekin, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
Florence didn’t act alone. State courts also sentenced several of his co-conspirators for related crimes:
- Freedom Prince Brown, 32, pled guilty to racketeering and received a 48-month prison sentence.
- Ridel Baptiste Michel, 33, spent about 20.5 months in jail before the court sentenced him to time served.
- James Matthew Spears, 60, pled guilty to using stolen identities, grand theft, and possessing a fake driver’s license. The court sentenced him to time served after 23.9 months in custody.
- Michelle Moore, 43, received a 24-month sentence for committing identity fraud, grand theft, using fake documents, and possessing a forged ID.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Alicia Forbes prosecuted the federal case. Assistant State Attorneys Robert Paul Gillespie and Ki McInnis handled the related state prosecutions.
Law Enforcement and Banks Respond to Justice Served
Law enforcement officials praised the teamwork behind the investigation. Multiple agencies worked together to crack the case, including the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, the Gulf Breeze Police Department, and the State Attorney’s Office for Florida’s First Judicial Circuit.
Private sector partners also played a big role. Navy Federal Credit Union’s Global Security Investigations team helped gather key information. The Carrollton Police Department in Georgia also supported the investigation.
Chief of Police Joel Richards from Carrollton called the sentencing a powerful reminder that this kind of criminal activity will not be tolerated. “We remain committed to protecting our community and upholding the rule of law,” he said.
A Navy Federal Credit Union spokesperson also spoke out, saying the credit union is proud of the effort to hold the fraudsters accountable. “We fully support the pursuit of justice to the fullest extent permitted by the law.”
This case highlights how fast action, teamwork, and dedication from local, state, and federal agencies—as well as private institutions—can take down a fraud ring before it causes even more damage.