Utah Man Sentenced to Three Years for Cryptocurrency Fraud

According to BlockBeats, a Utah man has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for his involvement in a cryptocurrency-related fraud scheme. Brian Garry Sewell, 54, from Washington County, Utah, was convicted of operating an illegal cash-to-cryptocurrency business and defrauding investors of approximately $2.9 million. Following his guilty plea, Sewell received a 36-month prison sentence and will be subject to three years of supervised release after serving his term. The court also ordered him to pay over $3.8 million in restitution to compensate the affected investors and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Prosecutors revealed that between December 2017 and April 2024, Sewell deceived at least 17 investors by fabricating his experience, educational background, and ability to generate high returns. The head of the FBI's Salt Lake City office stated that Sewell's false promises resulted in significant financial losses for numerous individuals and families. The investigation into the case began in 2020 and concluded after nearly five years. Prosecutors noted that Sewell's illegal cash-to-cryptocurrency operations, conducted through his controlled entity Rockwell Capital Management, transferred over $5.4 million, which became a crucial element in the subsequent criminal charges.