A man has pleaded guilty to participating in an international fraud scheme that allegedly targeted thousands of service members and veterans.
Robert Wayne Boling Jr., 45, who formerly lived in the Philippines, pleaded guilty in San Antonio federal court Oct. 20 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of money laundering, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Boling was charged for his role in an international ring authorities said was responsible for allegedly stealing at least 3,300 veterans’ and service members’ personal information over a five-year period.
“Those who courageously served our nation deserve our gratitude and protection—not to become targets for criminals seeking to profit from their sacrifice,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, in a statement.
How the Alleged Scheme Unfolded
The involved individuals allegedly diverted money for military benefits to accounts they controlled, stealing millions of dollars between July 2014 and 2019.
One of the victims was a prisoner of war and others had service-related disabilities, according to local media reports.
“This defendant betrayed our country by exploiting personal information belonging to thousands of military-affiliated individuals, including elderly and disabled veterans, in a calculated scheme to steal from those who have given so much,” Duva said Oct. 20.
“Today’s guilty plea demonstrates that the Department of Justice will pursue those who prey on America’s service members and veterans, no matter how sophisticated the schemes may be,” Duva added.
Officials charged Boling and four others—Fredrick Brown, Trorice Crawford, Allan Albert Kerr and Jongmin Seok—for participating in the alleged scheme, which federal officials have investigated since 2019.
Brown and Crawford previously pleaded guilty. Authorities sentenced Brown to more than 12 years in prison, and Crawford to 46 months.
Officials said Boling was the leader of the scheme.
“Defrauding the men and women who defended our country is reprehensible,” said Director James Ives of the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS).
U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia will sentence Boling in January, the DOJ said.
On April 7, DOJ announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division aimed “to zealously investigate and prosecute” those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars, as part of President Donald Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud that is chaired by Vice President JD Vance.
