'Felony Lane Gang' Member Hits N.Y. Credit Union, State Police Say

New York State Police said a Maine woman believed to be a member of the infamous “Felony Lane Gang” allegedly stole nearly $20,000 from branches of the $3.1 billion Empower Federal Credit Union in Syracuse.

State police arrested and charged Janel M. Cavallero, 45, of Portland, with 67 charges including 11 counts of ID theft, eight counts of falsifying business records, three counts of forgery, nine counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument, 11 counts of unlawful possession of personal ID, 11 counts of criminal impersonation, 11 counts of stolen property, one count of fraud and one count of grand larceny.

She was arraigned last month in local courts on the charges and is free on bail.

State Police Detective James Siddell said his investigation is ongoing, meaning additional arrests and charges against other persons could be pending.

Cavallero allegedly stole $19,780 from various Empower branches, which operate in 28 locations.

Authorities had been trying to identify Cavallero since last July after realizing a woman was making fraudulent transactions in different disguises at the credit union’s branches.

Based on that information, state police said they believe Cavallero is part of the “Felony Lane Gang,” which originated in Florida years ago and whose members travel the nation to defraud credit unions and banks.

The Felony Lane Gang name developed after law enforcement determined women, working for the gang, typically wore disguises and used phony IDs to cash stolen checks while sitting in a rented car with fake license plates in the farthest drive-thru lane at the credit union or bank to avoid detection.

To counter this fraud, Det. Siddell suggested that when a person in the drive-thru lane submits a large check to cash, the teller should ask the person to come into the branch and call police immediately if the person refuses and drives away. Providing the police with a good description of the car can help them apprehend the suspect.

Although not believed to be related to Cavallero’s case, Joshua Mallory and Gary Grier of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., pleaded guilty in federal court in Syracuse in December to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, according to federal prosecutors. They admitted to being involved with the Felony Lane Gang between 2015 and 2020, and stole an estimated $95,000 from credit unions and banks throughout several New York counties and in other states.

Federal prosecutors said Mallory, Grier and their co-conspirators broke into cars, often targeting those parked by women at health and fitness centers, daycares, outdoor recreational parks and dog parks. After breaking into the vehicles, the criminals stole debit cards, credit cards, checkbooks and photo IDs. They recruited women to impersonate other women whose identities had been stolen so they could cash checks at credit unions and banks. The check cashers were almost always drug addicts and were provided payment at least partially in narcotics, according to court documents.