Jessica R. Bryant, 34, and Jerrold D. Harrison, 30, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
FBI Special Agent Paul Kubala outlined the operation uncovered by a joint investigation with Richmond and Columbia sheriff’s investigators.
The men targeted places where they suspected women might leave their purses in vehicles, such as parks and gyms. They would break in to get driver’s licenses, checkbooks and other forms of ID.
“Cashiers” such as Bryant, pretending to be one of the victims, would go to a bank with checks written on another victim’s account, Kubala said.
Also named in the 33-count indictment were Johnny A. Hodges, 40; Kimberly N. Brogdon, 28; and James J. Woodard, 33. The defendants lived in the Orlando and Fort Lauderdale areas in Florida.
Brogdon pleaded guilty earlier this year, Hodges pleaded not guilty, and Woodard is a fugitive.
