Christopher Reese, also known as "Christopher Eugene Thomas," was found guilty in the Southern District of New York on several counts, including wire fraud and unauthorized practice of law. The U.S. Attorney's Office stated that Reese convinced victims seeking legal help for their incarcerated family members to pay large sums of money, despite not being a licensed attorney or working under one.

"Christopher Reese committed fraud through his bogus legal practice" by overpromising legal outcomes for prisoners, claiming he could secure their "immediate release" for significant fees despite lacking the authority or ability to do so. Acting as a "legal assistant" or "paralegal," Reese provided services only a licensed attorney is authorized to offer. When his efforts failed, he refused to issue refunds, operating within the Southern District of New York and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, where such unauthorized practices are prohibited, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Reese has been convicted on charges including wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years, unauthorized practice of law in a federal enclave (up to 4 years), making false statements to the U.S. Probation Office (up to 5 years), and conspiracy to commit money laundering (up to 20 years). His sentencing is set for June 26, with Judge Valerie E. Caproni presiding. The case resulted from an investigation by the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, with the prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Josiah Pertz, Kingdar Prussien, and James McMahon.