BIRMINGHAM, Ala. A Birmingham man was sentenced today for 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.
U.S. District Judge Abdul K. KallonsentencedMatthew Amos Burke, 35, to 204 months in prison for kidnapping, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Burke pleaded guilty to the charges in April.
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 prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Secret Service