Vegas Grant Scam Artist Villegas Admits to $5.3M Fraud

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A Las Vegas con man, Gregory Villegas, 37, has finally admitted guilt in a brazen $5.3 million advance-fee fraud scheme that preyed on desperate small business owners. Villegas pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, a charge stemming from an indictment handed down January 13, 2016. He’s looking at a potential 20-year stretch in federal prison.

Acting U.S. Attorney Steven W. Myhre announced the guilty plea, detailing how Villegas and his crew – including Christine Gagnon and Mickey Gines – systematically ripped off at least 390 victims between March 1, 2008, and May 2, 2012. The total take: a staggering $5,261,218. The scheme was simple, yet devastatingly effective. Villegas and his co-conspirators posed as grant facilitators, promising to secure public and private funding for struggling businesses. It was all a lie.

According to the plea agreement, Villegas never intended to actually *get* any grants. The operation was purely about lining their own pockets. They repeatedly squeezed victims for more money, falsely claiming it was needed for “goods and services” related to the supposed grant applications. When the funds didn’t materialize, they offered a litany of excuses and empty promises, perpetuating the scam. This wasn’t just negligence; it was calculated theft.

Villegas didn’t just rely on deception; he actively worked to cover his tracks. He directed staff to use aliases and operate under multiple business names, a blatant attempt to evade lawsuits, consumer protection agencies, and, of course, law enforcement. This wasn’t a fly-by-night operation; it was a carefully constructed house of cards built on lies and greed. Villegas clearly thought he could outsmart the system, but the FBI and U.S. Secret Service had other plans.

Villegas now faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. His sentencing is scheduled for June 30, 2017, before U.S. District Chief Judge Gloria M. Navarro. He won’t be the only one feeling the heat. Gagnon pleaded guilty on November 17, 2014, and awaits sentencing on April 14, 2017, while Gines entered a guilty plea on February 2, 2015, and will be sentenced June 22, 2017. The feds are cleaning house.

The investigation was led by the FBI and U.S. Secret Service, with prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Cowhig. This case serves as a harsh reminder: if something sounds too good to be true, especially when money is involved, it almost certainly is. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing of all involved parties.