AUSTIN, TX - A man from Texas who pretended to be a highly trained special operations veteran has been convicted of defrauding victims out of millions.
According to the New York Post, 52-year-old Kota Youngblood, also known as Saint Jovite Youngblood, defrauded dozens of people by claiming drug cartels were targeting them and he could protect them for a very high price tag. On Wednesday, December 11th, Youngblood was sentenced to 40 years in prison for conning 32 people out of more than $12 million in a scheme that dates back to at least 2010.
Youngblood, from Manor, Texas, convinced his victims that a Mexican drug cartel was after them and offered them and their loved ones protection in exchange for money. Court documents state that during a recorded conversation with an undercover FBI agent in May 2023, Youngblood said he currently "freelanced" for the Department of Defense.
He then claimed that he served 22 years in the Army's 82nd Airborne Division and Delta Force, a highly covert and elite Army special operations force that is part of the Joint Special Operations Command. FBI investigators, however, found no military service records for Youngblood.
Upon further investigation, FBI agents found that Youngblood told his victims he could protect them and their loved ones using his skills and connections as a special operator. In a statement, FBI Special Agent Aaron Tapp said, "Many of Youngblood's victims were terrorizes thinking their families were in danger; others lost their livelihoods to his schemes."
In August of 2023, one of his victims testified against him in federal court in Austin, saying that he had known him for around six years and their sons were on the same hockey team. Youngblood had his son tell the victim that his father needed to speak with him about a "situation" involving his ex-wife.
Youngblood then claimed that he and his family "were in grave danger," alleging that his ex-wife was mixed up with a Mexican drug cartel. He told the victim that his ex was attempting to have him killed to cash in on a $6.5 million life insurance policy in his name. Investigators said that Youngblood then claimed he obtained audio of the ex-wife and cartel members hiring a hitman to kill him through a friend of the National Security Agency.
He then requested money from the victim to protect them and his family. The victim wrote him a $70,000 check for his fake services and later gave him two more payments of $86,000 and $83,000. Investigators found that Youngblood "targeted a number of individuals from his son's hockey team."
Youngblood reportedly used intermediaries between himself and his victims to conceal his activities while running his con. According to investigators, he set up in-person meetings and avoided discussing his plans over the phone or via email.
He also told his victims, who he referred to as his "investors," that the funds would be "paid back with a significant return on the money." Accepting check payments funneled through a business associate, he told his victims the payments to protect their families would double as business investments and give returns.
Investigators found that instead, Youngblood had gambled most of the money away in Las Vegas. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza said in a statement, "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."
Youngblood was finally caught after the victim, whose son played on the same hockey team as his son, began working with the FBI after he never received his money back. In July 2023, Youngblood was arrested at Austin-Bergstorm International Airport while on his way to Las Vegas.
He was placed in a Waco detention center and went to trial in April 2024, where he was convicted of four counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. In addition to his 40 year prison sentence, he was ordered to pay full restitution in the amount of $12,766,384.00. Esparza said in a statement, "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."
According to the New York Post, 52-year-old Kota Youngblood, also known as Saint Jovite Youngblood, defrauded dozens of people by claiming drug cartels were targeting them and he could protect them for a very high price tag. On Wednesday, December 11th, Youngblood was sentenced to 40 years in prison for conning 32 people out of more than $12 million in a scheme that dates back to at least 2010.
Youngblood, from Manor, Texas, convinced his victims that a Mexican drug cartel was after them and offered them and their loved ones protection in exchange for money. Court documents state that during a recorded conversation with an undercover FBI agent in May 2023, Youngblood said he currently "freelanced" for the Department of Defense.
He then claimed that he served 22 years in the Army's 82nd Airborne Division and Delta Force, a highly covert and elite Army special operations force that is part of the Joint Special Operations Command. FBI investigators, however, found no military service records for Youngblood.
Upon further investigation, FBI agents found that Youngblood told his victims he could protect them and their loved ones using his skills and connections as a special operator. In a statement, FBI Special Agent Aaron Tapp said, "Many of Youngblood's victims were terrorizes thinking their families were in danger; others lost their livelihoods to his schemes."
In August of 2023, one of his victims testified against him in federal court in Austin, saying that he had known him for around six years and their sons were on the same hockey team. Youngblood had his son tell the victim that his father needed to speak with him about a "situation" involving his ex-wife.
Youngblood then claimed that he and his family "were in grave danger," alleging that his ex-wife was mixed up with a Mexican drug cartel. He told the victim that his ex was attempting to have him killed to cash in on a $6.5 million life insurance policy in his name. Investigators said that Youngblood then claimed he obtained audio of the ex-wife and cartel members hiring a hitman to kill him through a friend of the National Security Agency.
He then requested money from the victim to protect them and his family. The victim wrote him a $70,000 check for his fake services and later gave him two more payments of $86,000 and $83,000. Investigators found that Youngblood "targeted a number of individuals from his son's hockey team."
Youngblood reportedly used intermediaries between himself and his victims to conceal his activities while running his con. According to investigators, he set up in-person meetings and avoided discussing his plans over the phone or via email.
He also told his victims, who he referred to as his "investors," that the funds would be "paid back with a significant return on the money." Accepting check payments funneled through a business associate, he told his victims the payments to protect their families would double as business investments and give returns.
Investigators found that instead, Youngblood had gambled most of the money away in Las Vegas. U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza said in a statement, "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."
Youngblood was finally caught after the victim, whose son played on the same hockey team as his son, began working with the FBI after he never received his money back. In July 2023, Youngblood was arrested at Austin-Bergstorm International Airport while on his way to Las Vegas.
He was placed in a Waco detention center and went to trial in April 2024, where he was convicted of four counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. In addition to his 40 year prison sentence, he was ordered to pay full restitution in the amount of $12,766,384.00. Esparza said in a statement, "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."
For corrections or revisions, click here.
The opinions reflected in this article are not necessarily the opinions of LET
Comments