Gainesville women arrested for check-cashing scheme

Staff report

Updated on January 19 with Mitchell’s bail amount.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Dariyana S. Foreman, 24, and Kimberly Nicole Mitchell, 24, have been arrested for their participation in an alleged scheme to cash fraudulent checks that was organized by a man in federal prison.

According to the arrest report, Foreman, Mitchell, and Brandon Jamal Alex Grant “are or were in an intimate relationship,” but Grant is currently in federal prison on two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; his arrest report states that at the time of his arrest in July 2022 in Marion County, he had fraudulent checks made out to other people in his car.

This investigation began in September 2023, when a company in Pasco County reported that a $2,800 check was cashed fraudulently; other than the account number, the check had no similarities to the business’s actual checks. PCSO’s investigation found that the check had been deposited at a Gainesville bank into an account owned by Mitchell. PCSO spoke to Mitchell, who reportedly denied any involvement with the fraudulent check, and then forwarded the case file to ASO.

An ASO detective found that the account had been opened by Mitchell using her personal information and with a signature that is “visually consistent” with her signatures in police databases. The detective reported that between September 5 and September 25, 2023, $10,347.90 was deposited into Mitchell’s account and $7482.90 was withdrawn. The deposited checks were from different businesses and individuals, and the deposits were made via ATMs, mobile banking, and in-person in the bank’s lobby. The bank reportedly showed the detective a video of Foreman depositing a check into its ATM.

Post Miranda in 2023, Mitchell reportedly claimed ignorance of the scheme and said she did not receive any of the money. She said she opened the account at Foreman’s request and gave her bank documents to Foreman. She said she had spoken with Foreman “a few times” on the phone and through social media. She claimed to not know the identity of “BG” and said she never spoke with him.

Post Miranda in December 2023, Foreman reportedly “provided a vague account” of the scheme and claimed to have minimal involvement, but she identified herself in the ATM video and identified “BG” as Brandon Grant. She reportedly provided written consent to search her phone.

A search of Foreman’s phone reportedly produced multiple text messages in which Foreman identified herself and Grant as “scammers”; the detective reported that “a reasonable reader sees [Foreman’s] progression from student [to] criminal [participant to] recruiter.” Texts between Foreman and Mitchell were reportedly entirely focused on coordinating and perpetrating the check-cashing scheme or planning for future crimes. Foreman reportedly relayed her conversations with Mitchell to Grant, and Grant told Foreman what to tell Mitchell. Mitchell also reportedly talked to Grant on a few occasions.

In her text messages, Foreman reportedly discussed the personal information needed to open an account, which banks would clear the fraudulent checks the fastest, how much money to deposit, and the “hold” process on checks for new accounts. Foreman reportedly encouraged Mitchell to be patient and reassured her that she would get her money when it was split between the three of them.

In a post-Miranda interview yesterday, Foreman reportedly claimed that she was no longer personally involved in fraudulent schemes but regularly talks to Grant on secured prison lines and on cell phones Grant possesses in federal prison. She reportedly said that although she no longer participates in the scheme herself, she connects Grant via three-way calls with other people she knows to be “scammers,” for the purpose of making plans to “scam.”

Foreman has been charged with grand theft, fraud to obtain property under $20,000, and use of a two-way communications device to commit a felony. She has no criminal convictions. Judge Susan Miller-Jones set bail at $120,000.

Mitchell has been charged with fraud to obtain property under $20,000 and use of a two-way communications device to commit a felony. Judge Tatum Davis set bail at $5,000.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

  • Another Biden-era cultural legacy. Excuses and fraud. ACLUSPLCDNC 👺💩👹🤡👿

    • That’s stupid. People commit crimes no matter who is the president. Oh, wait…even the incoming president is a criminal. Who’s to blame for that?

  • Two fools falling under the spell of a life long criminal. Well done, ladies!

  • Love the hair doo on ” Dariyana” and the eyelashes on the other one! These people are well and truly “amazing.”

  • Know darn well they’re on section 8, welfare, and free gibs while scamming innocent citizens and businesses. Absolute leeches on society.

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