LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Jamesy Havens, 42, of Louisville, Kentucky, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 70 months for leading a sprawling fraud and money laundering operation that ripped off lenders to the tune of $1,449,482.66. U.S. District Judge Charles R. Simpson III also ordered Havens to serve 3 years of supervised release and pay back every penny stolen from the victims.
The scheme, which ran from May 2013 to August 2015, involved applying for auto loans with absolutely no intention of repayment. Havens and his crew – Ronald Brent Lovell, Jasen Coon, Danny Lee Coslow, Christopher Peplinski, and David Farnsworth – then spun a web of lies, falsely claiming they were victims of identity theft when the loans predictably went into default. They filed bogus police reports to bolster their fabricated claims, attempting to erase the debt from their credit histories and obstruct legitimate collection efforts.
But the scam didn’t stop at fraudulent loan applications. Havens and his co-conspirators laundered the ill-gotten gains through shell companies and fake car dealerships, meticulously designed to appear legitimate. Once the money was ‘cleaned,’ it was simply pocketed for personal use. The operation targeted over 39 lenders, leaving a trail of financial ruin in its wake. Lovell, 36, also of Louisville, received 37 months in prison and a $545,274.00 restitution order. Coon, 40, of Florida, got 27 months and a $171,398.31 bill to pay. Coslow, 50, of La Grange, Kentucky, will spend 21 months behind bars, owing $571,775.22.
Not everyone faced prison time. Christopher Peplinski, 44, of Michigan, received 3 years of probation and a $257,746.41 restitution order. David Farnsworth, 52, of Louisville, also avoided jail, receiving 3 years of probation and a $302,525.34 restitution order. While these co-conspirators received lighter sentences, the court made it clear that participation in the scheme would not go unpunished. There is no parole in the federal system, meaning Havens, Lovell, and Coon will serve their full sentences.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Judd led the prosecution, meticulously building a case from evidence gathered by a multi-agency task force including the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations division, the FBI, and the U.S. Secret Service. The investigation highlighted the agencies’ combined efforts to combat complex financial crimes and bring perpetrators to justice.
This case serves as a stark reminder that fraudulent schemes, no matter how carefully crafted, will eventually unravel. The substantial prison sentences and hefty restitution orders handed down by Judge Simpson send a clear message: those who prey on the financial system will face serious consequences. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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