Monroe County Arrest Links Miami Gang to Elder Fraud Scheme
A 26 year old man identified as a member of the Any Body Killer gang was arrested on a Monroe County warrant after investigators tied him to a scam that took about nineteen thousand eight hundred dollars from an 84 year old Lower Keys resident. The case underscores growing risks to seniors in Monroe County, highlights multiagency cooperation across jurisdictions, and raises questions about prevention and recovery for elder fraud victims.
Monroe County law enforcement arrested 26 year old Sheldon Adams Vandyke on November 24 at Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport as he returned from Belize, charging him with scheming to defraud a person over 65. Vandyke was held on a Monroe County warrant and given a bond of seventy five thousand dollars. Detectives say the case began when an 84 year old Lower Keys resident reported receiving a phone call on October 17 from someone falsely claiming to be with Bank of America, and that the caller persuaded the victim to provide personal banking information that allowed nearly nineteen thousand eight hundred dollars to be taken.
Investigators used surveillance video showing the suspect attempting ATM withdrawals in Miami with accounts created using the stolen funds. The Miami Police Department Gang Intelligence Unit identified Vandyke as a known gang member and reported he had no legitimate source of income. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office worked with law enforcement partners to effect the arrest and is coordinating with banking officials to try to recover the victim’s funds.
The arrest highlights several local policy and institutional questions. First, the targeting of an elderly resident points to ongoing vulnerabilities among seniors and the need for focused prevention and education. Second, the cross jurisdictional nature of the case illustrates that Monroe County authorities are dependent on cooperation with Miami police, airport law enforcement, and financial institutions to both investigate fraud and secure arrests beyond county lines. Third, the identification of gang involvement in financial schemes suggests that organized criminal networks are diversifying tactics to exploit online and telephone banking.
For Monroe County residents the practical implications are immediate. Seniors and their caregivers should verify unsolicited calls claiming to be from banks, avoid sharing account information over the phone, and report suspected fraud promptly to the Sheriff’s Office and their financial institution. For policymakers and local officials the case reinforces the need for outreach programs, stronger bank verification procedures, and clear pathways for victims to seek restitution.
The investigation remains active. Authorities have indicated they will pursue recovery of the victim’s funds through the bank and continue cooperation with partner agencies as the prosecution moves forward.
