(From the U. S. Attorney for the District of Kansas)TOPEKA, KAN. – Five people have been sentenced to prison after engaging in a fraudulent scheme that stole over three-quarters of a million dollars from a company that provides cash access services to casinos and online sports betting operators.
According to court documents, the following defendants pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and were sentenced to:
Jeremy Cushing, 53, of Topeka was sentenced to 95 months in prison;
Rachael Matoian, 36, of Topeka was sentenced to 38 months in prison;
Cassandra Williams, 39, of Spring Valley, California was sentenced to 12 months in prison;
Abraham Ruiz, 44, of Joplin, Missouri was sentenced to 34 months in prison; and
Leroy Noll, 46, of Newton was sentenced to 12 months in prison.
Rachael Matoian, 36, of Topeka was sentenced to 38 months in prison;
Cassandra Williams, 39, of Spring Valley, California was sentenced to 12 months in prison;
Abraham Ruiz, 44, of Joplin, Missouri was sentenced to 34 months in prison; and
Leroy Noll, 46, of Newton was sentenced to 12 months in prison.
Starting approximately July 2021 and continuing until March 2024, Cushing, Williams, Ruiz, Matoian, and Noll participated in a scheme to defraud a casino and online gaming services company. After identifying customers, the members of the conspiracy would obtain personal identifying information of the customers and use it to create fake driver’s licenses. The co-conspirators would then withdraw funds from customers’ accounts. The defendants repeated this numerous times at various casinos throughout the United States.
“This case underscores how criminals can exploit stolen personal information for financial gain,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “We urge the public to safeguard their identifying information and to immediately report any unusual account activity. Working together, we can disrupt schemes like this and protect our communities from financial exploitation.”
“In a world where technology and advancement has made it easier for people to participate in gaming activities - traditional methods of fraud are still being used. This scheme used a method of fabricating official identity documents to commit wire fraud. This sentencing should be a healthy reminder to all: no matter who you try to defraud or how you try to do it, the FBI will bear all resources to seek justice and to bring closure for victims,” said Chris Ormerod, FBI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Prairie Band Potawatomi Tribal Police Department, and Jackson County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Debenham prosecuted the case.
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