NEWARK, N.J. – Two men are facing federal charges today for a cold-blooded scheme targeting the online lives of professional and semi-professional athletes. The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced indictments against Trevontae Washington, 21, of Thibodaux, Louisiana, and Ronnie Magrehbi, 20, of Orlando, Florida, accusing them of illegally accessing and exploiting the digital accounts of players in the NFL and NBA.
The pair allegedly operated between December 2017 and April 2019, preying on athletes through sophisticated phishing tactics. Washington, the primary account compromiser, reportedly sent targeted messages on platforms like Instagram, luring victims with fake login pages designed to steal usernames and passwords. Once inside, Washington didn’t just stop at access – he sold that access to others for between $500 and $1,000 per account, essentially turning athlete’s digital identities into commodities.
Magrehbi took a more direct, extortion-based approach. He allegedly hacked into a professional football player’s Instagram and email, then demanded payment in exchange for restoring access. While the player complied with at least one payment, transferring funds to Magrehbi’s personal bank account, the accounts remained locked, leaving the athlete stranded and vulnerable. This wasn’t a simple case of password recovery; it was a calculated shakedown.
Federal prosecutors have charged both men with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit computer fraud and abuse. If convicted, Washington and Magrehbi each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 on the wire fraud charge. The computer fraud charge carries a maximum of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The U.S. Secret Service, along with state and local law enforcement, led the investigation.
Special Agents in Charge Mark McKevitt (Newark), Caroline O’Brien-Buster (Orlando), and Leslie Pichon (New Orleans) of the U.S. Secret Service oversaw the investigation. The New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice Financial and Computer Crimes Bureau and the Thibodaux, Louisiana, Police Department also contributed to the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Torntore of the Cybercrimes Unit in Newark is handling the prosecution.
It’s crucial to remember that these are accusations at this stage. Both Washington and Magrehbi are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. But the charges paint a disturbing picture of a deliberate and lucrative scheme targeting those who already live under intense public scrutiny. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds, bringing you the unvarnished truth behind these digital crimes.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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