⏱ 2 min read
Matthew Blake Morrow-Wu, a serial fraudster, has been sentenced to 160 months in prison for perpetrating a scheme to defraud a Manhattan architecture firm of nearly $400,000 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The scheme, which took place between 2020 and January 2023, involved Morrow-Wu using inside information to steal money from the firm and its clients through fraudulent check deposits and credit card transactions. Morrow-Wu, who has a lengthy history of fraud, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, among other charges.
The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, is the latest in a long line of convictions for Morrow-Wu, who has previously been convicted of identity theft, check fraud, credit card fraud, passport fraud, and obstruction of justice. Despite not being a licensed attorney, Morrow-Wu has also been known to misrepresent himself as a lawyer.
Morrow-Wu’s scheme was particularly egregious, given the timing of the fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many small businesses were struggling to stay afloat. The sentence serves as a warning to would-be fraudsters that there are significant consequences for their crimes.
The investigation and prosecution of Morrow-Wu’s case were handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, with assistance from federal law enforcement agencies. The case highlights the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the judiciary in combating white-collar crime.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: New York
- Location: NY
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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