Man Sentenced to 40 Years for $12 Million Wire Fraud Scheme, Posing as Delta Force Vet to Defraud Victims
A Manor man, 52-year-old Saint Jovite Youngblood, also known as Kota Youngblood, was sentenced on Wednesday to 40 years in federal prison after being convicted of four counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. The sentence was handed down by a federal court in Austin.
According to court documents, Youngblood orchestrated a wire fraud scheme in which he falsely claimed to be a member of the U.S. Army’s Delta Force and asserted that Mexican drug cartel members were planning violence against his victims. He offered protection to his victims in exchange for large sums of money, which he claimed would be paid back with significant returns. However, Youngblood instead used much of the money for personal expenses, including gambling trips to Las Vegas.
Throughout the course of his scheme, Youngblood defrauded 32 victims out of more than $12 million. He was arrested on July 31, 2023, and was convicted by a federal jury on April 23, 2024. In addition to his prison sentence, Youngblood was ordered to pay full restitution to the victims in the amount of $12,766,384.
U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza commented on the case, emphasizing the damage Youngblood caused to his victims, stating that the lengthy sentence and restitution demonstrate the severity of his crimes. FBI Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp also highlighted the harmful impact of Youngblood’s deceit, noting that many victims were left financially ruined and terrified for their safety.
The FBI investigated the case, and the prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dan Guess and Matt Harding.
