Ken-ichi Larroza Hatakama, Wire Fraud, Florida 2024

Orlando, Florida — Wire fraud has struck again, this time targeting a local company in the Sunshine State. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe has announced the return of an indictment charging Ken-ichi Larroza Hatakama, 36, a citizen and national of the Philippines, with wire fraud.

Hatakama, a computer coding expert, worked remotely with Victim Company, helping them with their coding needs. However, Hatakama had other plans in mind. He embedded malicious code into Victim Company's coding, causing payments intended for the company's partners to be rerouted to dozens of fraudulent PayPal accounts he controlled.

Through this scheme, Hatakama stole over $500,000 from Victim Company. The indictment also notifies Hatakama that the United States intends to forfeit $562,569.37, which are alleged to be the proceeds of the offense.

Hatakama faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison if convicted. However, it's essential to note that an indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law. Every defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Noah P. Dorman will be prosecuting the case.

Hatakama's scheme highlights the importance of being cautious when working with remote workers, especially those from foreign countries. Companies must ensure that they have adequate security measures in place to prevent such schemes.

As the investigation continues, it's clear that Hatakama's actions have severe consequences. The indictment marks a significant step towards bringing him to justice.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/foreign-national-indicted-wire-fraud-scheme