A Texan man's gambit to defraud individuals under the guise of military clout has come to a close with a 40-year prison sentence. Saint Jovite Youngblood, known also as Kota Youngblood, has been sentenced for running a scheme that involved convincing victims to invest with promises of high returns and protection from supposed Mexican drug cartel threats. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Texas, Youngblood claimed association with the elite U.S. Army's Delta Force, using this falsified connection to build trust before defrauding his victims of more than $12 million.

The swindler, who is 52 years old, conducted his fraudulent activities by wire and was convicted on four counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. Arrested on July 31, 2023, and put before a jury on April 23, Youngblood's conviction highlights a gross abuse of trust, where the invested money, rather than being returned with interest, was largely squandered in Las Vegas casinos. In a statement made by the Justice Department, U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas described Youngblood's actions as having "destroy their lives financially through elaborate, deceitful misrepresentations."

Youngblood will further be required to make full restitution, amounting to $12,766,384, a sum reflective of the deep financial impact he has had on his 32 victims. This restitution alongside his 40-year sentence underscores the severity with which the justice system views such crimes. Esparza conveyed hope that "the individuals and families impacted by his schemes are able to repair any loss they have suffered," as stated by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Texas.

The Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dan Guess and Matt Harding, who prosecuted the case, were acknowledged by Tapp for their role in securing justice for the victims.