Page 43 - Florida Sentinel 10-21-22

Crime
Suspect Wanted For Defrauding Car Purchasing Victims
Three Sentenced To Prison
For Bank Fraud
TYRE CRAWFORD
TIMOTHY BUCHANAN
JALEESHIA DEANNA ROBINSON
In 2018, Nickolas Lloyd created a LLC in the name Motors and More Transportation Services & Auto Parts. He was the au- thorized representative for the enterprise and utilized the business to commit fraud against several victims. Lloyd advertised his enterprise to Bahamians that his company purchases and ships vehicles from the U. S. to the Ba- hamas.
He would then provide the victims with his bank ac- count number so they could wire money for the transaction. After coming to an agreement, he would email a contract with his company letter head.
The victims would then wire him the money. Lloyd would continue to lie to the victims stating there were some complications with the vehicles and he needed more time to get them delivered.
Ultimately, Nickolas Lloyd never provided the vic- tims with their vehicle, nor did he give them their money back.
NICKOLAS LLOYD
Between December 2020 and May 2021, Nickolas Lloyd allegedly enticed 2 vic- tims and fleeced over $31,000 with his scheme to defraud.
One victim provided over a $13,000 deposit toward a 2015 Chevrolet 1500 SLV 4X4 CR LTZ and the second victim gave him a deposit of $18,000 to purchase a 1992 Interna- tional Dump Truck. Neither victim received their vehicle or a refund.
As a result of the investi- gation, Hillsborough County detectives have obtained an arrest warrant for Nickolas Lloyd, 50, for organized fraud $20,000 to $50,000.
Detectives believe there
may be others who fell victim to Lloyd’s fraudulent scheme. If someone is a vic- tim, they are encouraged to contact the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office to file a report.
Crime Stoppers of Tampa Bay is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to the location and arrest of Nickolas Lloyd, for his involvement in this case.
Anyone with any informa- tion regarding his where- abouts and who wants to be eligible for a cash reward is asked to callm Crime Stop- pers at 1-800-873-TIPS (8477), report anonymously online at www.crimestopperstb.com, or send a mobile tip using the free Florida Crime Stoppers mobile application. Crime Stoppers must be con- tacted first in order to be eligible for a cash re- ward.
For more information re- garding the specific case, con- tact the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Public Infor- mation Office.
The last of three Tampa residents have been sen- tenced to prison for a scheme to commit bank fraud. The scheme involved stolen and counterfeit checks.
Tyre Dayshawn Craw- ford pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy to commit fraud and aggravated identity theft. The 30-year-old man was sentenced to 7 years in prison.
In August, a jury found
Timothy Howard Buchanan guilty of conspir- acy to commit bank fraud, possession of forged checks, possession of stolen mail, possession of identification documents, and one count of aggravated identity theft. He will be sentenced in Decem- ber 2022.
Ms. Jaleeshia Deanna Robinson, was sentenced to
18 months in prison.
All three were also sen-
tenced to pay $44,130 in restitution.
The charges came about after a traffic stop on Inter- state 65, in Baldwin. A deputy stopped the vehicle for win- dow tint violation and notice marijuana cigarettes.
In addition to the drugs, the search also produced the discovery of 36 checks from various businesses in Ala- bama and Florida, along with a laptop computer, printer, blank check stock and seven forged or stolen driver’s li- censes, according to court records.
Those 36 checks totaled $330,000, while seven coun- terfeit payroll checks totaled $18,141, according to Craw- ford’s plea agreement.
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