Federal prosecutors say a Jefferson Parish duo turned the dream of a big pro sports payday into a long‑running hustle, using stolen identities and forged paperwork to snag nearly $3.5 million that was supposed to help professional prospects and their families.
A federal grand jury in New Orleans returned an indictment on April 24 charging 42‑year‑old Albert Paul Weber of Harvey and 39‑year‑old Cyntrelle Lash of New Orleans. The two are accused of teaming up with others to defraud victims and launder the proceeds through multiple bank accounts, according to WGNO.
Weber and Lash were first arrested last year. Investigators say the pair used fake identification while signing notarized loan documents at a Harvey shopping center, an incident that helped crack open the case. Early reporting also linked the defendants to loans allegedly taken out in the name of a top draft pick, details previously outlined by WVUE/Fox 8.
How Prosecutors Say the Scam Worked
According to prosecutors, the operation leaned on impersonation, forged documents and slick paper trails to convince specialty lenders to approve large, fast‑turnaround loans for people pretending to be athletes or their relatives. Similar frauds have surfaced across the country, including schemes where suspects used disguises or fake credentials on video calls to secure millions, a trend recently highlighted by AP News.
Local Timeline and Allegations
Court papers cited by prosecutors in the Eastern District of Louisiana say Weber and Lash began stealing the identities of athletes, family members and others as early as 2016. The indictment alleges they routed money taken from victims through several different bank accounts to keep the cash flowing and hard to trace, according to WGNO.
Prosecutors also say Weber did not stop after initially being arrested and released on bond. Instead, he allegedly spun up new parts of the scheme, including promising overseas basketball trips that never materialized and then, when challenged, threatening victims and demanding even more money, WGNO reports.
What Comes Next
The indictment is a formal accusation, not a conviction, and Weber and Lash are presumed innocent unless and until prosecutors prove the case in court. The federal case will proceed in New Orleans, where earlier arrest reports documented items seized by investigators and detailed bond hearings as the probe unfolded, according to prior coverage by WVUE/Fox 8.
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