6/23/2023 0 Comments Extortion sentenceThere is no parole in the federal system. Norton sentenced Wilkins to 66 months in federal prison and 36 months of supervised release to be served after Wilkins completes his 12-year state prison sentence. Several military members committed suicide after falling victim to this extortion scheme. In total, more than 300 military members throughout the United States were victims of the scheme, and the amount of loss exceeded $350,000. Attorney’s Office in South Carolina for participating in this scheme to extort military members. Wilkins was one of numerous inmates at SCDC prosecuted by the U.S. From February 2016 through January 2018, Wilkins received at least $74,000.00 in extorted funds, which investigators traced to at least 25 military victims. Wilkins and others then threatened to have the military members arrested or dishonorably discharged unless they paid money.ĭue to this extortion, service members transferred funds via Western Union and MoneyGram to Wilkins’ associates at Wilkins’ direction. Wilkins, and others acting at his direction, then posed as the father of the young woman, claiming that the young woman was underage and that the military member was in possession of child pornography. Posing as young women and targeting military members, Wilkins sent nude photographs of young females to the military members and solicited nude photographs and other personal information in exchange. Rhett DeHart announced today that Wendell Wilkins, 32, of Spartanburg, was sentenced to 66 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to money laundering, for his role in a scheme to extort and defraud military members that was operated out of the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC).Įvidence presented to the court showed that, while serving a 12-year sentence in SCDC for attempted armed robbery and using smartphones smuggled into prison, Wilkins joined internet dating sites, posed as young women thereon, and began communicating with military members. Columbia, South Carolina - Acting United States Attorney M.
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