3 foreign nationals allegedly used AI to mimic CEOs in $129M scheme, DOJ says
Three men — Jacob Soall, Sharon Hazan and Guy Sheetrit — have been charged by federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York with using AI voice-cloning technology to impersonate corporate executives and attorneys, defrauding thousands of companies of more than $129 million. The defendants were arrested in Europe and are awaiting extradition to the United States to face conspiracy, wire fraud and money-laundering charges. The indictment was unsealed Monday by U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald and FBI Assistant Director James C. Barnacle Jr.
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- ✓ Three foreign nationals — Jacob Soall, Sharon Hazan and Guy Sheetrit — have been charged in the Southern District of New York with conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering.
- ✓ Prosecutors allege the defendants used AI voice-cloning technology to impersonate corporate executives and attorneys to steal more than $129 million from thousands of companies.
- ✓ The defendants were arrested in Europe and are awaiting extradition to the United States.
- ✓ U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald and FBI Assistant Director James C. Barnacle Jr. announced the unsealing of the indictment on Monday.
What changed
The indictment was unsealed Monday, revealing the defendants' identities, aliases and the full scope of the alleged $129 million scheme.
Live updates
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Three foreign nationals charged in $129M AI voice-cloning fraud scheme
Three men, Jacob Soall, Sharon Hazan and Guy Sheetrit, have been charged by federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York with using AI voice-cloning technology to impersonate corporate executives and attorneys, defrauding thousands of companies of more than $129 million. The defendants were arrested in Europe and are awaiting extradition to the United States to face conspiracy, wire fraud and money-laundering charges. The indictment was unsealed Monday by U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald and FBI Assistant Director James C. Barnacle Jr.
Why it matters
The case marks one of the largest known fraud schemes involving generative AI voice deepfakes, signaling a shift from experimental misuse to industrial-scale financial crime. Prosecutors allege the group operated an international network that combined stolen lawyer identities with synthetic audio to authorize fraudulent wire transfers. The arrests in Europe highlight growing cross-border coordination against AI-enabled fraud.
What is confirmed
- Three foreign nationals, Jacob Soall, Sharon Hazan and Guy Sheetrit, have been charged in the Southern District of New York with conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering.
- Prosecutors allege the defendants used AI voice-cloning technology to impersonate corporate executives and attorneys to steal more than $129 million from thousands of companies.
- The defendants were arrested in Europe and are awaiting extradition to the United States.
- U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald and FBI Assistant Director James C. Barnacle Jr. announced the unsealing of the indictment on Monday.
Still unconfirmed
- The defendants are Israeli nationals.
- Soall used aliases including "Seba Clarke" and "Rocky Balboa"; Hazan used "Superman Cash" and "Impossible".
What to watch next
- Extradition proceedings and timeline for the defendants' arrival in the U.S.
- Trial date setting and potential plea negotiations.
- Details on the specific AI tools and voice-cloning platforms allegedly used.
confidence 96%Sources used for this update (11)
- NBC News — 3 foreign nationals allegedly used AI to mimic CEOs in $129M scheme, DOJ says
- The Guardian — Three men charged in US with using AI to impersonate CEOs and steal millions
- ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos — Trio used AI to impersonate corporate execs, defrauding companies of nearly $130 million: DOJ
- The Jerusalem Post — Israelis charged in international AI fraud, money laundering scheme
- PBS — 3 charged in $129 million AI scheme targeting thousands of companies
- PCMag — Trio of Scammers Used AI Voice Cloning Tech to Steal $129M From Companies
- Haaretz — Two Israelis Charged in U.S. With $129 Million AI-Powered Fraud Scheme
- abcnews.com — Trio used AI to impersonate corporate execs, defrauding ...
- www.nbcnews.com — 3 foreign nationals allegedly used AI to mimic CEOs in $129M ...
- www.justice.gov — Southern District of New York | Three Foreign Nationals ...
- www.biometricupdate.com — Deepfake CEOs, stolen lawyer identities fuel alleged $129M ...
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