CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The leader of a Charlotte hip-hop group has been sentenced to nine years in prison in connection with a massive identity theft scheme.
Investigators said Damonte Withers and seven other alleged members of the FreeBandz Gang recruited people on social media and promised an easy payday in exchange for access to their bank accounts.
Prosecutors said the group then cashed fake checks and got away with more than $1 million.
Withers has to pay the money back.
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