News from August 2021



Two Montana men charged with $1 million COVID-19 relief fraud scheme

News Release: BILLINGS Two Montana men were arraigned recently on charges in connection with a scheme to defraud a bank of approximately $1 million in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and to use those funds for their personal benefit, including buying property and vehicles, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said today.


Gaithersburg Man Pleads Guilty to Laundering More Than $6 Million Taken from Victims of Elder Romance Scheme

News Release: Annor and His Co-conspirators Laundered More Than $6,200,000 Taken from Over 200 Victims in the United States and Overseas


Savannah B&B manager accused of embezzling more than half a million dollars

News Release: Federal indictment charges 14 counts of wire fraud


New Orleans Man Admits to Defrauding Customers Through Bitcoin Sales

News Release: NEW ORLEANS U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced thatMICHAEL YUSKO, III, age 46, a resident of New Orleans, pleaded guilty today to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business before U.S. District Judge Barry W. Ashe.


New Orleans Man Sentenced for Wire Fraud

News Release: NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA JASON PICK, age 40, a resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced on August 5, 2021 for committing wire fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343 announced U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans. The Honorable Eldon Fallon sentencedPICKto 2 months incarceration, 10 months of home detention, 2 years of supervised release, a mandatory $100 special assessment fee and payment of $140,791.21 in restitution.


Atlanta CEO sentenced to prison for securities fraud

News Release: ATLANTA - Richard J. Randolph, III has been sentenced for securities fraud he committed while CEO of Randolph Acquisitions, Inc.


Atlanta CEO sentenced to prison for securities fraud

News Release: ATLANTA - Richard J. Randolph, III has been sentenced for securities fraud he committed while CEO of Randolph Acquisitions, Inc.


Georgia Woman Who Preyed on South Florida Seniors, Stole More Than $1.4 Million, Sentenced to 145 Months

News Release: Miami, Florida Today, a federal district judge in West Palm Beach sentenced a Georgia woman to 145 months in prison for leading a scam that tricked over 250 elderly South Floridians into turning over their credit cards, debit cards, and related personal identification numbers. The defendant and her co-conspirators used the cards and PINs to steal over $1.4 million.


Six People Charged with Crimes Related to Fraudulent Loan Scheme

News Release: CONCORD Six individuals have been charged in federal court in New Hampshire with participating in a fraudulent loan scheme, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.


Gaithersburg Man Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering in Connection to Elder Romance Scheme

News Release: Annor and His Co-conspirators Laundered More Than $6,200,000 from Over 200 Victims in the United States and Overseas; Annor Received at least $3,909,396 in Victim Payments.


New York Man Sentenced to 24 Months in Prison for Role in Identity Theft Conspiracy

News Release: NEWARK, N.J. A Bronx, New York, man was sentenced today to 24 months in prison for his participation in a scheme involving a network of individuals who used stolen payment card information in New Jersey and throughout the United States, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced.


Charleston Hotel Employees Charged in 21-Count Federal Indictment for Wire Fraud

News Release: Charleston, South Carolina ---Acting United States Attorney M. Rhett DeHart stated today that a Federal Grand Jury has returned a 21-count indictment charging Star Barkley, 39, of Ladson, and Audrina Lincoln, 30, of Charleston, for wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.


Birmingham Man Pleads Guilty to Kidnapping

News Release: 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.


Council Bluffs Man Sentenced to Prison for Possession of Child Pornography

News Release: COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA A Council Bluffs man was sentenced Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose to 121 months in prison for Possession of Child Pornography. His term of imprisonment will be followed by 10 years of supervised release. According to court documents, Cody Goodwin Taylor, age 31, of Council Bluffs, pleaded guilty to Possession of Child Pornography in April 2021.



Foreign Exchange Student Coordinator Sentenced to Over 27 Years in Prison

News Release: COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA A Council Bluffs man was sentenced Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, by United States District Court Judge Stephanie M. Rose to 327 months in prison for Coercion and Enticement of minor foreign exchange students. According to court documents, Thomas Donald Boatright, age 52, pleaded guilty to the offenses in February 2021. His prison term will be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Boatright was ordered to pay restitution to the minor victims.


The International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators Awards Secret Service Agents and Task Force Partners for Work Combating Financial Crimes

News Release: Washington, D.C. U.S. Secret Service agents and agency task force of partners have been named in multiple categories of awards as announced by the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators.


Former Marshall University Student Pleads Guilty to Role in Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme

News Release: CHARLESTON, W.Va. One of eight individuals indicted in April 2021 in connection with a large fraud and money laundering scheme pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering.


Bulgarian National Pleads Guilty to ATM Skimming

News Release: BOSTON A Bulgarian national pleaded guilty yesterday in connection with a scheme to create counterfeit ATM cards and to withdraw money from the bank accounts of unsuspecting customers.