EFFINGHAM, IL-(Effingham Radio)- Three people were arrested by the Altamont Police Department on Wednesday after allegedly stealing others’ identification.
32 year old, Elizabeth D Tweedy, of Shidler, Oklahoma, 32 year old, Sean J Russell, of Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, and 49 year old, Sherrie A Smith, of Ft Lauderdale, Florida were taken into custody on Wednesday.
According to the Effingham Daily News, the three “were stopped for improper lane usage at 2:37am Wednesday”.
A search of the vehicle turned up the alleged stolen identification, credit cards, and other stolen material.
According to the EDN, the three are members of the “Felony Lane Gang”.
They stated, “The FBI describes the gang as a group of decentralized rings originating in southern Florida with a similar manner of operation”.
A release about the gang from the FBI states, “The group utilizes rental vehicles with heavily-tinted windows to conduct surveillance in parking lots and steal identification documents (IDs), credit cards, and checkbooks from unattended vehicles. The majority of these burglaries occur at gyms, fitness centers, daycare facilities, and recreation areas where women would be more likely to leave their purses in their vehicles. FLG members then utilize the stolen checks and IDs to withdraw large sums of money at multiple banks before the victims have the opportunity to close their accounts. Since the victims are almost always female, FLG subjects have been known to recruit women, often prostitutes and drug users, from outside of the group to impersonate the victims. These women are known to successfully utilize disguises, such as wigs. The subjects will strategically choose the farthest window from the teller, in bank drive-thru lanes, to impersonate the customer while using a stolen ID. This drive-thru lane is commonly known as the “felony lane”, thus coining the name of this criminal enterprise.”
Other charges given were Methamphetamine charges, warrants for Forgery, and Obstruction of ID.