Navy Federal Credit Union branch. Credit/Shutterstock

Rodrick Florence Jr., of Atlanta, will begin a 72-month federal prison sentence in August for accessing or attempting to access hundreds of Navy Federal Credit Union member accounts across multiple states and stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office in Pensacola, Fla.

During a June sentencing hearing, U.S. District Court Judge T. Kent Wetherell II also ordered Florence, 35, to pay $335,897 in restitution and to serve five years of supervised release following his imprisonment.

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He pleaded guilty in February to one felony count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and mail fraud and one felony count of aggravated identity theft. In addition to the $335,897 Florence and four coconspirators stole, they also attempted to siphon $306,777 from at least 255 Navy Federal members across 35 states, federal prosecutors noted in court filings.

Between March 2021 to March 2023, Florence unlawfully obtained the personally identifiable information (PII) of more than 7,500 individuals, which included Navy Federal members and customers from other financial institutions. Prosecutors said Florence conspired with handlers and imposters to use the stolen PII to create fake driver’s licenses, passport cards, and debit and credit cards. Florence and his coconspirators used their own photos on the ID cards to access the victims’ accounts.

Handlers drove imposters to Navy Federal branches throughout northern Florida. The imposters wore Bluetooth earpieces and carried cell phones, enabling handlers to monitor interactions with Navy Federal employees and provide handlers with real-time instructions.

The imposters were typically instructed to make cash withdrawals. In some cases, they also requested cashier’s checks or new debit cards to further access the victims' funds.

While Florence was convicted in federal court, his coconspirators were prosecuted in Georgia state court after a joint investigation involving federal, state and local authorities. Investigators from the $190 billion Navy Federal in Vienna, Va., and Global Security Corp. in Edmond, Okla., also assisted with the case.

The coconspirators included:

  • Freedom Prince Brown, 32, sentenced to 48 months in prison after pleading guilty to racketeering;
  • Ridel Baptiste Michel, 33, sentenced to time served (approximately 20.5 months) after pleading guilty to racketeering;
  • James Matthew Spears, 60, sentenced to time served (approximately 23.9 months) after pleading guilty to illegal use of personal identification information, grand theft and possession of a forged driver’s license; and
  • Michelle Moore, 43, sentenced to 24 months in prison after pleading guilty to illegal use of personal identification information, grand theft, uttering forged bills or promissory notes, and possession of a forged driver’s license.

“Navy Federal commends the efforts to hold accountable those who defrauded our members,” a Navy Federal spokesperson said in a prepared statement. “We fully support the pursuit of justice of the fullest extent permitted by the law.”

Peter Strozniak can be reached at [email protected].

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Peter Strozniak

Credit Union Times reporter covering credit union operations, fraud, M&As, leagues, business continuity, and breaking news.