Joseph Elegele, Jr., age 41 of Orlando, was sentenced on April 16 to three years and ten months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe.
The sentencing follows Elegele's guilty plea entered on December 18, 2025. The court also ordered the forfeiture of $801,559.33, which represents proceeds from his criminal activities.
Court documents show that between August 2017 and June 2023, Elegele participated in a scheme that laundered funds fraudulently obtained from businesses across the United States and the Bahamas. His role involved opening business bank accounts in the Middle District of Florida through which large sums could be transferred. Other members of the conspiracy operated overseas and used online communications and business email compromise tactics to trick businesses into making fraudulent transfers into accounts controlled by Elegele. He then withdrew large amounts of cash or purchased cashier’s checks to move or dissipate the stolen funds. According to prosecutors, Elegele kept part of these proceeds for himself while passing along the rest to other conspirators.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading up to this case. Assistant United States Attorney Chauncey A. Bratt prosecuted it, with Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Andrejko handling forfeiture proceedings.
This sentencing highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to address complex international fraud schemes involving multiple jurisdictions.
