Orlando Man Sentenced to 7 Years for Wire Fraud Scheme
An Orlando man has been sentenced to 7 years in federal prison for his role in a scheme that impersonated Homeland Security agents and defrauded victims out of over $342,000.
Ronnie Rolland Montgomery, 28, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in September 2017. He was sentenced to 7 years in federal prison by U.S. District Court Judge Carlos E. Mendoza.
Montgomery was a leader in a criminal organization that targeted victims on adult dating websites. The scheme involved one of the conspirators posting a fraudulent ad claiming to be a woman seeking companionship. When victims responded, the conspirators would continue to pretend to be a woman before later claiming to be federal agents and accusing the victims of soliciting a minor on the internet.
The victims were then instructed to pay a ‘fine’ or ‘fees’ to clear their supposed warrant. The scheme generated over $342,000 in profits, with victims sending multiple extortion payments ranging from $200 to $1,900 per transaction.
In addition to Montgomery, five others have been indicted in the same scheme: Donte Sherrick Harris, Jean David Jules, Jonathan Wayne Thorne, and Jason Tyiwuan Green. An indictment is merely a formal charge, and every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Office of Professional Responsibility, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, among others.
The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorneys Christina R. Downes and Brandon Bayliss.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Cybercrime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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