Lexington men plead guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud
Image: Department of Justice (D.O.J.)
Image: Department of Justice (D.O.J.)
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)– Two Lexington men have both pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud or their involvement in a business email compromise and romance scam scheme, said the DOJ.
Evidence obtained during the investigation revealed that Kenneth Brown and Nicholas Shepard coordinated with others to receive checks from victims of the business email compromises and romance scams through the United States mail to their business, Golden Eagle Precious Metals Exchange, based in Irmo.
After receiving the checks, Brown and Shepard deposited them into their business account and then converted the money into cryptocurrency, says the , says the DOJ.
Brown and Shepard face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.
They also face a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment.
A United States District Judge accepted the guilty pleas and will sentence them both after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
