An Ohio resident has been sentenced to over four years in prison for his role in a multi-national business email compromise scam. Gabriel Waters, 54, from Chillicothe, Ohio, was found guilty of wire fraud and money laundering. He was ordered to pay more than $547,000 in restitution.
Court documents revealed that Waters participated in a scheme where fraudsters spoofed corporate email accounts to impersonate employees who manage company finances. They purchased domain names similar to those of the victim businesses and used these imitation emails to trick employees into transferring funds to accounts controlled by the fraudsters. Waters facilitated the scheme by setting up U.S.-based bank accounts, receiving money from victims, laundering it through various accounts, and converting it into cryptocurrency sent overseas.
U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Waters to 57 months in prison with an additional five years of supervised release. Restitution of $547,455.80 was ordered.
Federal officials emphasized the significance of this case for Mississippi and condemned the fraudulent activities. "Working with our law enforcement partners, we will continue to pursue criminal prosecutions against scammers who victimize American businesses and individuals," stated U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner.
Robert Eikhoff, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jackson Field Office, remarked on the commitment to accountability: "Mr. Waters' sentencing exemplifies the FBI's commitment to holding individuals accountable for their criminal actions."
The investigation involved cooperation between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Clyde McGee and John Herzog.
