Dwayne C. Hans Charged in $1.5M Cyber Heist

Dwayne C. Hans, a 27-year-old U.S. citizen, is facing federal charges in a brazen cyber fraud scheme that nearly netted him $1.5 million from a U.S. financial institution. According to a complaint unsealed yesterday, Hans orchestrated a complex digital con between April and July 2016, posing as an authorized representative of the institution to siphon funds from corporate bank accounts for personal gain.

Hans allegedly transferred $134,000 from the institution’s accounts to buy stocks, invest in a Brooklyn real estate property, and enrich family members. But the scheme escalated when he broke into SAM.gov, the General Services Administration’s contractor database, and altered the financial institution’s profile—replacing its bank details with his own. That move redirected a $1.5 million payment from the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation straight into Hans’ personal account—until the fraud was caught and reversed.

The defendant was arrested October 26, 2016, in Richland, Washington, on a criminal complaint filed in the Eastern District of New York. His initial appearance took place yesterday before U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice in Spokane, Washington. A detention hearing is set for Monday, October 31, to determine whether he will be held in custody pending transfer to New York for prosecution.

Charges were announced by Robert L. Capers, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and FBI Assistant Director in Charge William F. Sweeney, Jr. Capers warned that cybercriminals like Hans exploit digital trust to strike at the heart of financial systems. “We will find you, and we will bring you to justice,” he said. Sweeney added that the FBI remains a relentless force against those who think anonymity online shields them from arrest.

The criminal complaint outlines three felony counts: wire fraud, computer fraud, and money laundering. Authorities say Hans used social engineering, unauthorized system access, and forged credentials to manipulate financial wiring protocols. The breach of SAM.gov underscores growing vulnerabilities in federal contractor platforms—a red flag for cyber defense agencies.

DWAYNE C. HANS, E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 16-MJ-951, remains presumed innocent until proven guilty. The case is being handled by the National Security & Cybercrime Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney David K. Kessler is leading the prosecution. As digital threats evolve, this case signals federal resolve to crack down on cyber-enabled financial crimes—no matter where they originate.