Related Federal Cases
- Capital One, Defrauding Savers, New York NY, 2023 · New York
- DaShawn Larode Fatally Shot by NYPD, Brooklyn NY, 2025 · Washington
- Vivek Ramaswamy Rejects VP Offer, Focusing on Presidential Ambition… · Georgia
- Chris Sununu Declares War on Trump’s Grip, Undisclosed, 2024 · New Hampshire
- Wall Street Firms, Financial Malfeasance, New York NY, 2023 · Texas
Defendant Enticed Victims with Fake Reviews, Held Belongings Hostage
Andre Prince, a former employee of a Brooklyn moving company, has been sentenced to 24 months in prison for his involvement in a multi-million dollar wire fraud scheme. Prince was convicted in December 2023 of conspiracy to commit wire fraud following a one-week trial.
According to court documents, Prince and his co-defendants operated a number of moving companies under various names, including Great Moving USA, Green Movers, and Cross Country Moving and Storage. They would lure customers with fake reviews and low-cost transportation estimates, only to spring new expenses on them after the contract was signed.
Victims were faced with drivers who threatened to hold their belongings hostage unless they paid additional fees, sometimes double or triple the original estimated cost. In one conversation on the Slack messaging app, Prince reacted to memes sent by another salesperson, laughing and acknowledging the scheme.
As a result of the fraudulent scheme, the defendants obtained more than $3 million from over 800 victims. Prince was ordered to pay a $100,000 forfeiture as part of his sentence.
“The defendant enticed victims to use the moving companies he worked for and then held their belongings hostage to substantially higher prices and the threat of auctioning them off unless they agreed to the fraudulent demands,” said Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.
FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Christie M. Curtis stated: “Andre Prince enticed customers to entrust fraudulent moving companies with their household goods, only to financially extort them with threats of selling their belongings.”
DOT-OIG Special Agent in Charge Christopher A. Scharf added: “Today’s sentence demonstrates our commitment to detecting and prosecuting fraudulent household goods movers who take advantage of unsuspecting customers by holding their personal belongings hostage.”
Prince’s co-defendant, Kristy Mak, is awaiting sentencing for her role in the scheme.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News