Fraud on a Grand Scale: Fort Walton Beach Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud Scheme
In a shocking turn of events, Stephen M. Alford, 62, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, has pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud related to his attempt to illegally obtain $25 million. The plea was announced by Jason R. Coody, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida.
According to court documents, between March 16 and April 7, 2021, Alford engaged in a scheme to defraud the victim out of $25 million based on Alford’s false promises and guarantees to secure a Presidential Pardon for a family member of the victim.
The scheme involved a series of meetings and text message exchanges between Alford and the victim, as well as undercover recordings arranged by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. During the exchanges, Alford repeatedly promised the victim that Alford had access to the current President of the United States.
Alford’s actions were a brazen attempt to swindle a victim out of a substantial sum of money, all under the guise of securing a Presidential Pardon. It is a crime that has left many in the community outraged and seeking justice.
Alford faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment to be followed by a term of supervised release. Sentencing in this case is currently set for February 16, 2022, at 9:00 a.m., at the United States Courthouse in Pensacola before the Honorable United States District Judge M. Casey Rodgers.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation into Alford’s crimes, and Assistant United States Attorneys David L. Goldberg and Lazaro P. Fields are prosecuting the case. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida is committed to bringing those who engage in such crimes to justice.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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