Man pleads guilty to committing fraud against 2 Kansas City banks

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Gerald Humphrey Jr., a 30-year-old former Kansas City resident, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud against two financial institutions in the area, as announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Western Missouri on March 28. The plea involves a single count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud at institutions insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

The fraud scheme came to light on July 1, 2022, when an investigator reported an alleged check fraud operation to the FBI's Kansas City office. Court records reveal that the scheme involved individuals recruited through social media, who unknowingly provided their personal information to fraudsters. These crimes included the depositing of fake checks into customer accounts.

Investigators recorded evidence of the scheme, including surveillance footage of Humphrey and another suspect making deposits using similar checks. The co-defendants exploited the fraudulent deposits to withdraw cash at ATMs, make debit card purchases, and transfer money via Cash App.

The investigation uncovered that two banks in the Kansas City area were targeted, beginning in April 2022 and continuing through September of the same year. Approximately $90,000 was lost in the scheme, with an intended financial impact of around $400,000.

Under federal law, Humphrey faces a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison without the possibility of parole. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled following a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.