close
close

Apre-salomemanzo

Breaking: Beyond Headlines!

Springfield judge sentences Chicago-area man for using dark web to fund rapper’s lifestyle
aecifo

Springfield judge sentences Chicago-area man for using dark web to fund rapper’s lifestyle

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A Chicago area man has been sentenced in Springfield federal court for his role in a nationwide fraud conspiracy.

According to the Department of Justice, a 32-year-old man Antonio M. Strong of Orland Park, Illinois, and five other individuals allegedly conspired to defraud numerous businesses and individuals using unauthorized and stolen payment card account information from real people.

Chicago rapper ‘G Herbo’ among six others charged in federal fraud case in Springfield

Strong used various fictitious names and aliases, provided false driver’s licenses in the names of fictitious and real people, used email accounts in the name of fictitious and real companies, and falsely represented that he was owned by “Universal Music “, “Sony Music,” “Epic Music” and other real and fictional companies.

Strong pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud. He was sentenced Tuesday to 34 months in prison and three years of supervised release, ordered to forfeit $2,159,874 and make restitution of $2,159,873.

Additional co-defendants include rapper Herbert Wright III (known as G Herbo), Demario Sorrells, Joseph Williams, Steven Hayes, Jr. and Terrance Bender.

  • Sorrells pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. On Friday, he was sentenced to three years probation, $106,000 in restitution and $106,000 in forfeiture.

  • Wright pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of making a false statement to a federal official and was sentenced to three years of probation and was ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture of $139,968.

  • Williams pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay restitution of $155,392 and forfeiture of $102,116.

  • Terrence Bender is expected to plead guilty in November.

  • Steven Hayes, Jr. awaits trial.

Local news headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated and local programming in western Massachusetts. Look at it 22News Digital edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports and streaming videos, visit WWLP.