Crime

Baltimore County serial fraudster sentenced to 5 years in prison, ordered to pay $4.2 million in restitution

BALTIMORE, MD—A Baltimore County resident has been sentenced to prison for wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett has sentenced Adeyanju Adewale, 40, of Reisterstown, to five years in federal prison, followed by one year of home detention as part of three years of supervised release, for a wire fraud conspiracy that resulted in a loss of millions of …


Around Maryland, Business, Crime, Police/Fire, Sci-Tech

Three individuals charged in $1.89 billion cryptocurrency fraud scheme

Baltimore, MD—Three individuals have been charged in U.S. District Court in Maryland for orchestrating a $1.89 billion cryptocurrency fraud scheme. A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging Sam Lee, 35, an Australian citizen residing in the United Arab Emirates for allegedly co-founding HyperFund, also known as HyperTech, HyperCapital, HyperVerse, and HyperNation. The indictment was returned on January 25, …


Maryland brothers indicted for an alleged lottery scheme that defrauded victims of more than $3.5 million

BALTIMORE, MD—Two Maryland brothers have been indicted for an alleged lottery sweepstakes scheme that defrauded victims of more than $3.5 million. A federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment charging brothers Dwayne and Wayne Henry, age 32 and 34, respectively, both of Landover Hills, for conspiracy to commit mail fraud, in connection with a lottery scheme where victims believe …

Maryland’s ‘Operation Washout’ results in 95 fugitive arrests

BALTIMORE, MD—The U.S. Marshals Service Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, District of Maryland, and task force partners conducted a large-scale, multi-agency law enforcement operation focused on apprehending violent fugitives and wanted gang members throughout the month of May, arresting dozens of violent offenders throughout Maryland. Operation Washout – Maryland resulted in a total of 95 fugitive arrests, including 17 …

Baltimore man sentenced to prison in connection with counterfeit card encoding scheme

BALTIMORE, MD—A Baltimore man has been sentenced to prison for his role in a counterfeit card encoding scheme. U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III has sentenced Leroy Holmes, 62, of Baltimore, to 57 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for bank fraud in connection with a scheme to re-encode credit cards, debit cards and …

Fallston man sentenced to 15 years in prison for distribution of child pornography

BALTIMORE, MD—A Fallston man has been sentenced to prison on child pornography charges. U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher on Monday sentenced Robert Jackson Wyatt Jr., 54, of Fallston, to 15 years in federal prison, followed by lifetime supervised release, for distribution of child pornography. Wyatt had a previous federal conviction for possession of child pornography. Judge Gallagher ordered that, …

Foreign national sentenced to prison after fraudulently opening bank accounts in Maryland

GREENBELT, MD—A foreign national has been sentenced to prison after fraudulently opening bank accounts in Maryland. U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang has sentenced Daniel Velcu, 43, of Baltimore, to 34 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud. As part of his sentence, Velcu will be required …

Maryland man sentenced to 5 years in prison for illegally smuggling firearms to Nigeria

BALTIMORE, MD—A Maryland man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for illegally transporting firearms with obliterated serial numbers and smuggling firearms to Nigeria. U.S. District Judge Richard D. Bennett this week sentenced Eric Fru Nji, 42, of Fort Washington, to 63 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for conspiracy, for transporting firearms …