BIRMINGHAM, Ala. A Birmingham man pleaded guilty todayto kidnapping and collecting ransom money, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona, Federal Bureau of Investigation Johnnie Sharp, Jr., and United States Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis.
Matthew Amos Burke, 35, pleaded guilty to kidnapping, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit bank fraud. He entered his plea pursuant to a binding plea agreement with the government in which the parties jointly recommended Burke be sentenced to 204 months in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 2, 2021, before U.S. District Judge Abdul K. Kallon.
According to the plea agreement, on Sept. 11, 2020, Burke unlawfully entered the home of the victim. Burke then abducted the victim and transported him to Burkes residence, where the victim was forced to transfer $250,000 from his bank account into another bank account as directed by Burke. Once $250,000 was transferred, Burke drove the victim back to his residence and released him. The victim then contacted the Birmingham Police Department and the Mountain Brook Police Department.
The FBI and Secret Service investigated the case along with the Birmingham Police Department and the Mountain Brook Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys John Camp and William Simpson are prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Secret Service