https://www.kxan.com/news/crime/manor-man-sentenced-to-40-years-in-12-million-fraud-money-laundering-scheme/

A Manor man must serve 40 years in prison and pay more than $12 million in restitution for wire fraud and money laundering charges.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Saint Jovite Youngblood, aka Kota Youngblood, 52, was convicted in April of four counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering.

Youngblood was also ordered to pay a full restitution of $12,766,384.

The DOJ said in a press release that court documents showed Youngblood committed wire fraud against his victims by claiming Mexican drug cartel members were planning to commit violence against them, and falsely claiming he was part of the U.S. Army’s Delta Force special operations unit and could protect his victims in from the cartels in exchange for money.

Youngblood also said funds obtained from his victim “investors” would be paid back with a return on the money, but he instead spent most of it on trips to Las Vegas to gamble in casinos, according to the DOJ.

According to the DOJ, Youngblood defrauded 32 victims for more than $12 million. He was arrested on July 31, 2023, and convicted by a federal jury April 23, 2024.

The FBI investigated the case and assistant U.S. Attorneys Dan Guess and Matt Harding prosecuted the case.

“Many of Youngblood’s victims were terrorized thinking their families were in danger; others lost their livelihoods to his schemes. This sentence reflects the despicable nature of Mr. Youngblood’s lies and criminal actions,” said Special Agent Aaron Tapp with the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office. “The FBI is committed to identifying scams such as this – and ensuring anyone who endeavors to financially fleece innocent Americans is held to account. We want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their work on this case – and their continued assistance in gaining justice for victims of financial crimes.”