While awaiting sentencing for the initial mail fraud scheme, Young embarked on a second scheme between March 2019 and May 2022. In this subsequent scheme, Young mailed letters falsely informing recipients that they were eligible to receive unclaimed funds totaling millions of dollars, a share of a multimillion-dollar legal settlement, or a prize, provided they paid a nominal fee ranging from $30 to $40.
A man from New Jersey was sentenced today in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York to a term of 72 months in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for perpetrating two distinct mail fraud schemes.
These schemes involved defrauding victims across the United States by sending deceptive letters falsely claiming that recipients were entitled to substantial sums of money in exchange for a nominal fee.
Court records reveal that Ryan Young, aged 41, of Upper Saddle River, orchestrated two separate mail fraud operations. In the first scheme, spanning from 2011 to 2016, Young and his associates dispatched fraudulent prize notification letters to individuals in the U.S. and numerous other countries.
These letters deceitfully asserted that the recipients had won cash prizes or valuable items like luxury vehicles. Victims were instructed to remit small processing fees, typically ranging from $20 to $25, to claim their purported prizes.
However, many recipients received nothing in return, while others received only trivial items or sweepstakes reports unrelated to the promised rewards. In February 2018, Young pleaded guilty to a single count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud in connection with this expansive international mail fraud endeavor, which bilked victims out of approximately $50 million.
While awaiting sentencing for the initial mail fraud scheme, Young embarked on a second scheme between March 2019 and May 2022. In this subsequent scheme, Young mailed letters falsely informing recipients that they were eligible to receive unclaimed funds totaling millions of dollars, a share of a multimillion-dollar legal settlement, or a prize, provided they paid a nominal fee ranging from $30 to $40.
Despite the payments made by victims in response to these letters, Young failed to disburse any funds to them. Instead, he dispatched booklets containing readily available information or flyers advertising online restaurant discounts. Court documents indicate that Young's second scheme resulted in losses totaling $1.6 million for the victims involved.
“The defendant in this case defrauded victims through multiple mail fraud schemes, depriving vulnerable Americans out of more than $50 million,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department and its federal law enforcement partners are committed to investigating and prosecuting those who target vulnerable American consumers for financial gain.”
“The defendant’s conduct is especially egregious. After pleading guilty and acknowledging his responsibility, Mr. Young decided to revert back to what he knew best, which was ripping off Americans,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Criminal Investigations Group. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message to others who think they will not be caught – postal inspectors will find you.”
For individuals aged 60 or above who have fallen victim to financial fraud, assistance is accessible through the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). Managed by the Office for Victims of Crime within the Justice Department, this hotline is manned by skilled professionals who offer tailored assistance to callers by evaluating the victim's needs and recommending appropriate actions.
Case managers assist in identifying relevant reporting agencies, offering guidance on reporting procedures, facilitating direct connections with appropriate agencies, and providing resources and referrals as needed on a case-by-case basis. Prompt reporting is crucial, as it aids authorities in identifying perpetrators and enhances the prospects of recovering losses resulting from fraud. The hotline operates Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET, offering services in English, Spanish, and other languages.
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