Alleged 'Felony Lane Gang' member arrested

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) - Escambia County Florida Sheriff's Deputies said Irving Brown Jr. is suspected of being part of the "Felony Lane" Gang.

Sheriff David Morgan said authorities gave them the name because of their use of the outer lane of drive-through banks to pass fraudulent checks.

"They pull to the outside lane of the drive-through of the bank where they're the farthest from the teller. Often, the lane's don't have camera coverage and you can't see well into the vehicle or see the tag on the car," Morgan said.

Deputies said Brown tried to cash a fraudulent check at the Wells Fargo on Nine Mile Road on August 4. Investigators said a cashier noticed something was wrong and notified authorities.

Brown was later found and arrested at the La Quinta Inn on Davis Highway.

Officials said members of the group often commit burglaries and steal ID's, credit cards and print fake checks to the sum of hundreds of dollars.

They said the gang pulls off these crimes throughout the country.

"They hit different communities and move along. It's a moving target. If they stay very long in one place, it gives law enforcement the chance to move in and make the arrest," Morgan said.

But Morgan said the shocker is that Brown and other members of the "Felony Lane" gang may hold ties to the violent national gang known as the Crips.

"Over the last years of tracking gangs through Escambia County, we've had some national gang affiliates but they're mostly transient. Some would move into the area but we'd end up arresting them," he said.

Authorities said when national gangs are seen in the area they often just pass through. Still, they say they continue to investigate and are not taking any chances.

Brown was charged with Defrauding a Financial Institution and Fraud/Swindling, as well as charges in other jurisdictions. He is being held in Escambia County jail under a $50,000 bond.

If you have any information on these crimes, contact the Escambia County Sheriff's Office or the Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers at (850) 433-STOP.