A Hyattsville man, Victor Killen, was sentenced on April 16 to 63 months in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $7 million in restitution for his role in a multi-million dollar money laundering conspiracy. Judge Matthew J. Maddox also imposed a $3 million forfeiture order and three years of supervised release following Killen's guilty plea in December 2025.
The case highlights the ongoing efforts by federal authorities to combat large-scale financial crimes that target government agencies, businesses, and organizations. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, victims included an environmental trust, urban redevelopment program, medical center, transportation company, school district, college, and county government.
Court documents show that from 2021 through February 2024 Killen worked with others to launder proceeds from wire fraud schemes by creating shell companies and opening bank accounts under false names. The group used encrypted communication channels to coordinate their activities and carried out complex transactions designed to make it difficult for law enforcement or victims to recover stolen funds.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland; Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Heck of Homeland Security Investigations; Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter of IRS-Criminal Investigation; and Acting Special Agent in Charge George Golliday of EPA-OIG announced the sentence.
In total, more than $20 million was laundered through this conspiracy involving at least fifteen victim entities. Fourteen people have been charged so far; thirteen have pleaded guilty while one remains a fugitive. Several co-conspirators received sentences ranging from two years up to four years with varying amounts of restitution ordered by the court.
The case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative aimed at dismantling criminal organizations threatening public safety and national security through coordinated action among federal agencies.
Hayes said she commended "the HSI-led Document and Benefit Fraud/Mid-Atlantic El Dorado Task Force," thanked other participating agencies for their assistance during the investigation as well as Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Gruber, Bijon A. Mostoufi, Jared M. Beim who prosecuted the case along with Paralegal Specialist Joanna B.N. Huber.
The U.S Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland serves nearly six million residents across Maryland according to its official website. It employs over 200 personnel across civil, criminal and administrative divisions according to its official website, prosecuting federal crimes such as those involved here while also handling civil cases on behalf of the United States according to its official website.
For more information about resources available or how residents can report fraud cases like this one see the office's website.
