Darryl Burke first entered the federal system in the 1990s when he pleaded guilty to a prior bank fraud conspiracy with his brother. Now, 25 years later, Burke faces 30 years in prison if convicted of the new charges against him. However, the scheme behind these new charges is not so new. In fact, the current allegations against Burke involve conduct and deception that is identical to the original crime Burke admitted to in the 1990s.
Darryl Burke first entered the federal system in the 1990s when he pleaded guilty to a prior bank fraud conspiracy with his brother. Now, 25 years later, Burke faces 30 years in prison if convicted of the new charges against him. However, the scheme behind these new charges is not so new. In fact, the current allegations against Burke involve conduct and deception that is identical to the original crime Burke admitted to in the 1990s.
Burke and his romantic, business partner, Vicki Garland, used fake names, their friends’ identities and falsified documents to operate a $15 million bank fraud conspiracy. The couple conspired to buy and sell over 20 properties in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties. They even went as far as using the properties to make even more money by renting them out to low-income renters.
When Burke was arrested in August 2013, the Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Seltzer ordered that he be locked up without bond pending trial because of his long history of running from law enforcement. Prior to this arrest Burke had run from the cops when they tried to arrest him outside his home. It wasn’t long before the officers caught up with him and ordered him to surrender, at gunpoint.
Burke and Garland both deny all the allegations and have pled not guilty. The jury trial for this $15 million bank fraud conspiracy began this past Tuesday, January 21, 2014. The trial is expected to take about two weeks and the couple faces 30 years in prison if they are convicted.
Source:
Sun Sentinel, Defiant fugitive faces massive fraud charges – again, Paula McMahon, January 18, 2014
