Michele Beckwith Acting U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California
Former U.S. House Representative Terrance John “TJ” Cox, aged 61 and residing in Fresno, has entered a guilty plea to charges of wire fraud and wire fraud affecting a financial institution. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith.
Court documents reveal that Cox engaged in fraudulent activities targeting companies he was associated with. He reportedly set up unauthorized bank accounts to divert funds from clients and companies through deceptive means. These schemes spanned from 2013 to 2018, during which Cox unlawfully acquired client payments, company loans, and investments that he solicited but subsequently misappropriated.
Furthermore, Cox secured a $1.5 million construction loan under false pretenses for the development of Granite Park in Fresno. The nonprofit organization run by Cox and his business partner lacked the financial capacity to guarantee the loan independently. To secure the loan, Cox falsely claimed that one of his affiliated companies would provide the necessary guarantee, even submitting a fabricated board resolution asserting unanimous owner agreement—an event that never occurred.
The investigation leading to these charges was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry Z. Carbajal III and Jeffrey A. Spivak are handling the prosecution.
Cox is due for sentencing on June 2, 2025, facing potential penalties including up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. However, the final sentence will be determined by the court based on statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
