A New Jersey man has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison after using forged U.S. passport cards to withdraw money from victims’ bank accounts in Florida and South Carolina.

Michael Scott Hillwig, 59, of Camden, New Jersey, was sentenced April 7th in the Northern District of Florida for bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and false use or forgery of a passport, says the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

In May 2023, he unlawfully obtained victims’ names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers and passport card numbers, then created fraudulent U.S. passport cards with his photograph and the victims’ identifying information.

He traveled to financial institutions in South Carolina and Florida locations including Bonifay, Niceville and Winter Garden, presenting victims’ Social Security numbers and the fake passport cards to make withdrawals.

Says U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin,

“It is of vital importance to raise awareness about the vulnerability of our personal identifying information online, which fraudsters relentlessly pursue as they seek to enrich themselves by exploiting their victims. As this defendant has learned, my office is just as relentless in our pursuit of criminals like him, and we aggressively prosecute such frauds to the fullest extent to achieve justice for the victims of these crimes.”

Hillwig will serve more than two years in prison followed by three years of supervised release and must pay restitution to victims.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and Holmes County Sheriff’s Office.

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The post New Jersey Man Drains Cash From Bank Accounts Across Florida Used Stolen Identities and Forged Passports: DOJ appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

A New Jersey woman and her Colombian husband have been convicted of running a fake transit company that sought more than $13 million in federal funds meant for elderly, disabled and homeless Americans.

A federal jury in Utica, New York, found Jael Watts, 45, of Alloway, and Luis Pino-Copete, 42, of Bogota, Colombia, guilty in the scheme, says the U.S. Department of Justice.

Prosecutors say the pair operated Pearl Transit Corporation, a New Jersey shell company that claimed to employ drivers nationwide for medical rides and homeless outreach while delivering no real services.

Between July 2019 and October 2025, they sought more than $13 million through false claims and took in more than $1.6 million from agencies in Georgia, California and North Carolina, according to the DOJ.

Trial evidence showed they built fake payrolls and client lists with stolen identities, including people who were already dead, and listed “drivers” who lacked licenses or had never driven a car.

Says Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the DOJ’s National Fraud Enforcement Division,

“The defendants fabricated payrolls and client lists, even using the identities of deceased individuals, to siphon millions meant for the most vulnerable Americans.”

Bank records showed more than $100,000 on Porsche rentals, more than $100,000 at luxury retailer Loro Piana in Manhattan and months of travel across Colombia, Aruba and Europe, the DOJ says.

Watts was convicted of false statement, aggravated identity theft and five counts of wire fraud, while both were also convicted of wire fraud conspiracy, false document and aggravated identity theft. At a January 21st, 2027 sentencing, each faces up to 20 years in prison, fines of up to $250,000 and at least $1.9 million in restitution, and Pino-Copete faces deportation after any prison term.

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The post New Jersey Couple Convicted in $13,000,000 Ghost Ride Fraud Aimed at Elderly and Homeless appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

Federal prosecutors have secured a guilty plea from a Boston man accused of using fake identification to drain hundreds of thousands of dollars from customer accounts.

William Shaw, 68, admitted to four counts of bank fraud and four counts of aggravated identity theft in federal court, says the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.

The defendant posed as at least 13 account holders from late 2022 into early 2025 by presenting forged driver’s licenses that carried the victims’ details alongside his own photograph.

He also submitted withdrawal forms listing the customers’ names and account numbers to obtain cashier’s checks and cash totaling more than $900,000.

Judge Julia E. Kobick set sentencing for January 6th, 2027, after Shaw was charged in January 2026.

Separately, authorities charged six additional men in July 2025 as part of a larger multi-state bank fraud investigation covering Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Three of those defendants have already entered guilty pleas and await sentencing, while another received a sentence in a connected case.

A bank fraud conviction carries up to 30 years in prison along with fines reaching $1 million or twice the amount gained or lost.

Each aggravated identity theft count requires at least two years in prison served consecutively to any other term.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen Kearney is handling the prosecution.

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The post Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to $900,000 Bank Fraud Using Fake IDs appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

Federal prosecutors say they’ve obtained a guilty plea from an Ohio resident who ran a fraudulent investment scheme that stole more than $3 million from victims across two states.

John E. Brown II, 45, of Brecksville, Ohio, pleaded guilty on September 29th, to 17 counts of wire fraud and two counts of engaging in monetary transactions in criminal proceeds, says the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio.

The scheme centered on nonexistent bundled tickets to sporting events and theme parks that Brown falsely portrayed as fluctuating in value like stocks and doubling through splits.

Victims wired funds after seeing fake documents and actors posing as successful investors, yet Brown moved roughly $1.375 million to casinos for personal gambling.

Three victims lived in Berea, Mayfield Heights and North Royalton, Ohio, while two others resided in Cape Coral and Orlando, Florida.

Each wire fraud count carries a maximum 20-year prison term, while each money laundering count allows up to 10 years, with sentencing scheduled for January 7th, 2027.

The FBI Cleveland Division conducted the investigation.

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The post Ohio Resident Admits to Orchestrating $3,000,000 Fake Ticket Investment Fraud Scheme appeared first on The Daily Hodl.