⏱ 4 min read
John Stuart Robison, a 63-year-old Austin man, has been found guilty of scamming an investor out of $1 million in a wire fraud and money laundering scheme. The crime occurred in Austin, Texas, where Robison convinced the investor to pay $1 million into a business bank account controlled solely by him, claiming the money would benefit the University of Austin. The investor was told the money would be kept in an escrow account unless and until Robison raised an additional $1 million. However, Robison had other plans, and one day after the money was wired into the business account, he transferred $250,000 into another of his bank accounts for his own benefit.
As part of the scheme, Robison lied to the investor about land he controlled or had under option, presenting false option contracts for property and claiming that all monies spent on the project were from his personal accounts. Within a few months of receiving the wired funds, Robison had spent the entire $1 million. The FBI and Austin Police Department investigated the case, which led to Robison’s indictment on November 18, 2025, and his arrest on November 21, 2025.
Robison now faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the one count of wire fraud and up to 10 years in prison for the money laundering charges. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dan Guess and Britni Verdeja. The guilty verdict is a result of a federal jury trial, which found Robison guilty of the crimes.
The investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement agencies to combating financial crimes and holding perpetrators accountable. The FBI and Austin Police Department worked together to bring Robison to justice, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas successfully prosecuted the case.
The outcome of this case serves as a reminder to investors to be cautious and diligent when making financial decisions, and to verify the legitimacy of investments and the individuals involved. It also highlights the importance of reporting suspicious activity to law enforcement agencies to prevent and combat financial crimes.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: money laundering
- Location: TX
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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