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Florida Man Sentenced to Prison for Hacking Scheme that Stole $150,000 from Elderly Kalispell Woman
A Florida man who admitted his role in an India-based computer hacking scheme that stole $150,000 from an elderly Kalispell woman was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison and ordered to pay $1,236,470 in restitution to seven victims, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Eddly Joseph, 44, of Gainesville, Florida, pleaded guilty in August to wire fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana.
On February 2024, Glacier Bank notified the FBI that Jane Doe, a Montana woman in her 70s, was the victim of a scam. The international, India-based scam included fraudsters tricking Jane Doe into giving them $150,000 for ‘safe-keeping.’ The fraudsters made it appear as if victims had a virus on their computers and that their bank accounts were accessible to hackers. To ‘safekeep’ the victims’ money, Joseph and others directed victims to withdraw cash and give it to them so the hackers could not access and steal the victims’ money.
As a result of Joseph’s and others’ conduct, victims across the United States were repeatedly scammed, with a total loss of $1,236,470, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy presided over the case, imposing a sentence of two years and nine months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release. Joseph was also ordered to pay $1,236,470 in restitution to the seven victims.
“Far too often, these internationally-based fraud schemes result in no accountability for those who prey on Montanans. But not this time. Due to the diligent work of the FBI, Joseph was caught and is now going to federal prison for running a predatory scheme by tricking and stealing from elderly victims across the country, including a Kalispell woman,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich said.
“The best thing Montanans can do to protect themselves is to not send money to people who randomly call soliciting money due to some kind of fake emergency, such as an alleged virus existing on your computer,” U.S. Attorney Laslovich added.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan G. Weldon prosecuting the case.
Eddly Joseph, 44, of Gainesville, Florida, was sentenced to 2 years and 9 months in prison for wire fraud. He was ordered to pay $1,236,470 in restitution to seven victims. The scheme, which was based in India, stole $150,000 from an elderly Kalispell woman and a total of $1,236,470 from victims across the United States.
Defendant: Eddly Joseph
Criminal Charges: Wire Fraud
Location: Missoula, Montana
Sentencing Date: February 2024
Sentence: 2 years and 9 months in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release
Restitution: $1,236,470
Dollar Amount: $150,000, $1,236,470
Key Facts
- State: Montana
- Category: Cybercrime & Fraud
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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