Winston-Salem Man Gets 5 Years for Online Fraud Scheme Role

GREENSBORO, N.C. — A 29-year-old man from Winston-Salem has been sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for his involvement in a web of online fraud schemes, according to United States Attorney Matthew G.T. Martin.

James Ragland is accused of participating in at least eight different scams where he obtained funds by wire, mainly from victims within the U.S., and then laundered the proceeds. His activities included Business Email Compromise (BEC), romance scams, and account takeover schemes.

The defendant, who was not directly conducting the frauds, conspired with others believed to be in West Africa. Ragland received money into his accounts from various victims, including a single mother in California who lost $56,593.90 intended for a home purchase and a Missouri woman who lost her life savings of $40,000.

Ragland pleaded guilty on November 18, 2019, to conspiracy to launder money, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from unlawful activity. Judge William L. Osteen, Jr., also ordered him to serve a 3-year term of supervised release and pay $312,014.18 in restitution.

“We are going after those who use the Internet to scam people, especially our elders,” said U.S. Attorney Martin. “This defendant was a critical player in a large fraud conspiracy, moving money to avoid fraud controls and profit handsomely.”

John Strong, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, warned that the internet can be a dangerous place, emphasizing the importance of verifying identity before sending money online.