DOJ: Chicago-Area Rap Promoter Sentenced for Role in Nationwide Fraud Conspiracy

• Hayes and co-conspirators used stolen payment card information to defraud businesses and individuals, causing $44,814 in victim losses.
• Other defendants received sentences ranging from probation to three years in prison, with restitution and forfeiture orders up to $2,159,874.

Steven Hayes, Jr. was sentenced on Oct. 8, 2026, to three years of probation and ordered to pay $2,728 in restitution and forfeiture after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The scheme, active from at least March 2017 through November 2018, involved using stolen payment card information to obtain goods and services across the United States.

Hayes was indicted with five co-defendants, including Antonio Strong, Herbert Wright, Joseph Williams, Demario Sorrells, and Terrence Bender. The group used authentic payment card details to make fraudulent purchases, resulting in significant losses for businesses and individuals, with restitution and forfeiture amounts for co-defendants reaching as high as $2,159,874.

• $2,728 Hayes restitution and forfeiture
• $44,814 Hayes victim losses
• $2,159,874 Strong restitution and forfeiture

• Review transactions for unauthorized use of authentic payment card information as described in the DOJ case against Steven Hayes, Jr. and co-defendants.
• Update fraud detection protocols to flag purchases of high-value goods and services such as private jet charters and luxury rentals linked to the typologies in this case.
• Screen for restitution and forfeiture orders matching amounts like $2,728, $44,814, and $2,159,874 to identify potential connections to this wire fraud conspiracy.

This case highlights the risks posed by organized groups using authentic but stolen payment card information to commit large-scale wire fraud, resulting in significant financial losses for businesses and individuals. Compliance officers must be vigilant for similar fraud typologies, especially where legitimate cardholder data is used to bypass standard controls. The restitution and forfeiture amounts underscore the financial impact and the importance of robust transaction monitoring and reporting to detect and prevent such schemes.