Forty-year sentence delivered to Manor man for large-scale wire fraud and money laundering scheme
Austin, Texas – A federal court in Austin sentenced Saint Jovite Youngblood, also known as Kota Youngblood, 52, of Manor, Texas, to 40 years in prison on Wednesday. Youngblood was convicted on four counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering for orchestrating an elaborate scheme that defrauded his victims of over $12 million.
Exploiting Trust Through Fear and Deception
According to court documents, Youngblood misled his victims by claiming that members of a Mexican drug cartel were planning violent attacks against them. Pretending to have a military background as part of the U.S. Army’s elite Delta Force special operations unit, Youngblood offered protection to his victims in exchange for money.
In addition to preying on their fears, Youngblood also solicited funds from individuals under the pretense of investment opportunities, promising significant returns. Instead of using the funds as promised, he spent most of the money on personal luxuries, including gambling trips to Las Vegas casinos. Over the course of his scheme, Youngblood built close relationships with 32 victims, gaining their trust and exploiting it for his financial gain.
Youngblood was arrested on July 31, 2023, and later convicted by a federal jury on April 23, 2024.
Full Restitution Ordered for Victims
In addition to his 480-month prison sentence, Youngblood was ordered to pay restitution totaling $12,766,384 to the victims of his fraudulent activities. The restitution aims to compensate individuals and families who suffered devastating financial losses due to his deceitful actions.
“This fraudster developed close relationships with dozens of individuals, building an immense amount of trust seemingly just to destroy their lives financially through elaborate, deceitful misrepresentations,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas. “The 40-year sentence that Youngblood will now serve in federal prison, along with the full restitution paid back to the victims, demonstrates the gravity of these crimes, and it is my hope that the individuals and families impacted by his schemes are able to repair any loss they have suffered.”
FBI’s Role in Uncovering the Scheme
The FBI spearheaded the investigation into Youngblood’s fraudulent activities, exposing the breadth of his deceit. Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp of the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office highlighted the severity of Youngblood’s crimes and their impact on the victims.
“Many of Youngblood’s victims were terrorized thinking their families were in danger; others lost their livelihoods to his schemes. This sentence reflects the despicable nature of Mr. Youngblood’s lies and criminal actions,” said Tapp. “The FBI is committed to identifying scams such as this and ensuring anyone who endeavors to financially fleece innocent Americans is held to account.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dan Guess and Matt Harding, who worked tirelessly to secure justice for the victims.
The lengthy prison sentence and restitution aim to deliver a measure of justice to the victims of Youngblood’s crimes. Federal prosecutors emphasized the importance of holding individuals accountable for financial crimes that wreak havoc on the lives of ordinary citizens.
