Albert Paul Weber of Harvey, Louisiana, and Cyntrelle Lash of New Orleans were indicted on April 24 for allegedly participating in a scheme to impersonate professional athletes and secure fraudulent loans, U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle announced on Apr. 28.
The indictment alleges that Weber, age 42, and Lash, age 39, along with others, stole the identities of athletes expected to be drafted by NBA and NFL teams. They used these stolen identities to convince businesspeople and lenders they were dealing with the actual athletes or their associates. Over several years starting as early as 2016, more than $3.5 million was transferred to Weber, Lash, and their coconspirators through this scheme.
Court documents say that after being arrested in May 2025 by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office for using fake identification to sign notarized loan documents for an athlete's name—and then released on bond—Weber began a new part of the operation involving overseas trips for basketball players. When victims questioned him about money taken for trips that did not occur, he allegedly threatened them and demanded more money while warning them not to speak about his actions.
Weber and Lash face charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Weber is charged with six counts of aggravated identity theft; Lash is charged alongside him in one count. Additionally, Weber faces charges related to interstate transmission of threats.
If convicted on all counts relating to conspiracy charges alone, both could face up to twenty years in prison per charge; aggravated identity theft carries two-year sentences consecutive to other penalties; interstate transmission of threats can result in up to five years per count plus supervised release periods ranging from one year (for some charges) up to three years (for others). Fines could reach $250,000 or $500,000 depending on the charge or twice the gain or loss involved; there is also a mandatory special assessment fee per count.
Courcelle said: "U.S. Attorney Courcelle reiterated that an indictment is merely an allegation and that the defendant’s guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt." The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated this case with help from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office.
The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana enhances community safety through law enforcement efforts according to its official website. The office operates under the U.S. Department of Justice according to its official website and enforces federal laws while prosecuting criminal cases according to its official website. The U.S. Attorney is appointed by the President with Senate approval according to its official website and serves as chief federal law enforcement officer covering Southeast Louisiana according to its official website. In addition to criminal prosecutions and civil matters defense duties—including debt collection—the office aims to protect residents across Southeast Louisiana through federal law enforcement initiatives according to its official website.
