What we know
What we know: 3 charged in scheme to use AI to impersonate CEOs and attorneys to steal $129 million
Compiled Nov 5
What we know
- Three people — Jacob Soall, 41, Sharon Hazan, 54, and Guy Sheetrit, 42 — were indicted on wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges, plus money laundering.
- Prosecutors say the trio used AI to impersonate corporate executives and attorneys to steal about $129 million.
- The scheme ran for more than a year and a half and targeted thousands of companies worldwide.
- Victims included hospital systems in Missouri and California, a bank in Rhode Island, a UK fintech firm, a Massachusetts mutual fund company and a Florida pet food company.
- The defendants, from Spain, the UK, Israel and the UAE, were arrested between June and September.
- The method involved a fake CEO email, an AI-mimicked voice/video call, and a follow-up impersonation of an attorney instructing wire transfers later converted to cryptocurrency.
What we don’t know yet
- The case docket, which usually lists defense lawyers, was still sealed as of Thursday evening.
- The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York did not respond to AP's request for comment.
Open questions
- Who are the specific law firms or attorneys the defendants impersonated?
- Why was the case docket still sealed as of Thursday evening?
- Will any of the stolen $129 million be recovered?
- What is the current legal status or plea of each defendant?
Drawn from the Associated Press report. “What we don’t know” lists only what the reporting itself flags as unresolved.