Joshua S. Levy, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts
A Chicago man, Terrence Bender, known in the music industry as "Blends" or "Dopeblends," has been sentenced to three years of probation for his involvement in a nationwide wire fraud conspiracy. This decision was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni in federal court in Springfield, Massachusetts. Bender has also been ordered to pay $103,000 in restitution and forfeiture after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in November 2024.
Bender was initially indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2020 alongside five co-defendants: rap promoter Antonio Strong, rap artists Herbert Wright and Joseph Williams, their associate Demario Sorrells, and one other unnamed individual. The group conspired from March 2017 through November 2018 to defraud businesses and individuals across the United States using stolen payment card information.
The fraudulent activities involved authentic cardholder details such as names, addresses, security codes, and expiration dates. Businesses unknowingly processed these transactions and delivered goods and services to the conspirators before discovering they were fraudulent. Cardholders disputed the unauthorized charges with their companies, which then reversed the transactions causing financial losses for the affected businesses.
The group utilized illicit funds for extravagant purchases including private jet charters, luxury villa rentals in New York City, designer puppies from pet boutiques, and car insurance under Bender's name. The total losses attributed to Bender amount to $103,000.
Other members of this scheme have also faced legal consequences. Herbert Wright received three years' probation on January 11, 2024; Demario Sorrells was sentenced on August 29, 2024; Joseph Williams received his sentence on August 13, 2024; while Antonio Strong received a more severe penalty of three years' imprisonment on October 29, 2024.
The announcement of Bender's sentencing came from United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Andrew Murphy from the United States Secret Service Boston Field Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow along with Trial Attorneys Andrew Tyler and Kyle Crawford from the Justice Department’s Criminal Division’s Fraud Section.
As proceedings continue against an additional defendant who remains unnamed at this time, it is important to note that they are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
