A man from the Chicago area, Demario Sorrells, 38, was sentenced in federal court for his role in a nationwide wire fraud scheme. He received three years of probation and must pay $106,000 in restitution and forfeiture.
Demario Sorrells and five others were indicted in December 2020 for a wire fraud scheme that ran from March 2017 to November 2018. Sorrells pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in February 2024. The scheme involved using stolen payment card information to buy goods and services, which led to chargebacks when cardholders discovered the unauthorized charges.
In a statement obtained by the Justice Department, evidence showed that Sorrells provided rap promoter Antonio Strong with illicit account information obtained from the dark web and sometimes received payment for this information; Strong used the fraudulent data to acquire lavish luxuries including private jets and luxury accommodations throwing the costs onto unsuspecting businesses and individuals.
With Sorrells sentenced, attention now shifts to co-defendant Strong, who pleaded guilty to related charges and will be sentenced on September 19, 2024. Wright and Williams, two other conspirators, also pleaded guilty earlier, receiving probation and financial penalties—Williams in August and Wright in January 2024.
The case continues as the remaining defendants prepare for their court appearances. The Justice Department reminds the public that, despite the serious allegations, the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
