⏱ 2 min read
Ralph Rogers III, a 63-year-old investment advisor from Batavia, Illinois, has been sentenced to 6.5 years in federal prison for running a wire fraud scheme that swindled multiple clients out of $238,000. From 2021 to 2023, Rogers promised investors that their money would be used to fund legitimate business opportunities, including fiber optic cable installation and computer chip manufacturing for Tesla. Instead, he used the funds for personal expenses like travel, jewelry, and gym fees.
Rogers, who also goes by the name ‘Tres Rogers,’ pleaded guilty to a federal wire fraud charge in November 2025. His sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Sara L. Ellis, who also ordered him to pay $238,044.62 in restitution to his victims. This is not Rogers’ first run-in with the law, as he was already on court-supervised release following a prior federal fraud conviction.
The investigation was led by the FBI’s Chicago Field Office, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois. According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristin M. Pinkston, Rogers is a ‘serial fraudster’ who targets anyone in his vicinity, including acquaintances and strangers he meets at the gym or in social settings.
Rogers’ scheme was designed to lure in unsuspecting investors with promises of lucrative returns. However, instead of investing the money as promised, he used it to fund his own lavish lifestyle. The case highlights the importance of due diligence and caution when investing in business opportunities, especially those that seem too good to be true.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Illinois
- Location: IL
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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