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Trio used AI to impersonate corporate execs, defrauding companies of nearly $130 million: DOJ

Evidence type
Regulatory or legal action
Sources
1 sourceJournalism
Published
2 min read
Truvace record
TRV-2026-2635cite or check it

Three people face charges alleging they schemed to use artificial intelligence to defraud companies of nearly $130 million, federal prosecutors in Manhattan announced Thursday. Jacob Soall, who called himself "Rocky Balboa," Sharon Hazan a…

Trio used AI to impersonate corporate execs, defrauding companies of nearly $130 million: DOJ
"Cash machine - ATM" by Bjarne Henning Kvaal, CC BY-SA 3.0.

The problem

Federal prosecutors allege three men used AI to mimic executives' voices and images and lawyers' voices, tricking employees into wiring more than $129 million from companies between July 2024 and February 2026.

In brief

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan announced charges against Jacob Soall, Sharon Hazan and Guy Sheetrit, who allegedly used AI to impersonate corporate executives and law-firm attorneys and defraud companies of nearly $130 million. The three were arrested in Europe and await extradition to the U.S. on conspiracy, money laundering and other charges.

The indictment says the scheme ran from July 2024 to February 2026. Victims named include a Missouri hospital system, a Rhode Island bank, a California hospital system, a UK financial technology company, a Massachusetts mutual fund company and a Florida pet food company, so the losses cut across health care, banking and consumer goods.

The allegations have not been tested in court. The charges carry a maximum of up to 20 years in federal prison, and U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald said the public should recognize that some people seek to use emerging AI technology for criminal goals.

Main points

  1. The scheme allegedly ran from July 2024 to February 2026 and cost companies more than $129 million, according to prosecutors.
  2. Defendants allegedly used AI to mimic a CEO's voice or image on calls, then impersonated lawyers at large international law firms to make a sham confidential transaction look real.
  3. Employees were directed to wire large sums to bank accounts controlled by members of the conspiracy.
  4. Named losses include $11,578,474 from a UK financial technology company and $5,242,747 from a Florida pet food company.
  5. Two hospital systems were targeted: $4,829,580 from one in Missouri and $2,968,497 from one in California.
  6. The three face conspiracy, money laundering and other charges carrying up to 20 years in federal prison.

The full story

According to the unsealed indictment, the fraudsters told a target company's employees they needed help with a confidential financial transaction, using AI to mimic the CEO's voice or image in calls. Posing as the CEO, they then pointed the employee to lawyers at large international law firms who were supposedly working on the deal.

The indictment alleges the group impersonated those lawyers as well, reinforcing the belief that the transaction was real before the employee wired money to an account controlled by the conspiracy. Accounts were located all over the world.

Soall, 41, of Marbella, Spain, and the U.K., was arrested in Spain in June. Hazan, 54, of Israel, was arrested in Spain in August. Sheetrit, 42, of Israel and the United Arab Emirates, was arrested in the U.K. in September. Hazan was convicted in Manhattan federal court of conspiracy to commit bank fraud in 2008.

Sources

1 on file
  1. ABC Newsabcnews.com
    Journalism2026-11-06

Talk it over

Three questions to start on, two more if you have timeThe indictment alleges the group used AI to mimic a CEO's voice or image, then impersonated lawyers at large international law firms. If you were an employee on that call, which step would make you stop and check?

Start with a question

Trio used AI to impersonate corporate execs, defrauding companies of nearly $130 million: DOJhttps://truvace.com/item/trio-used-ai-to-impersonate-corporate-execs-defrauding-companies-of-nearly-130-m

  1. The indictment alleges the group used AI to mimic a CEO's voice or image, then impersonated lawyers at large international law firms. If you were an employee on that call, which step would make you stop and check?

    Answer in the thread

  2. Prosecutors named losses at a Missouri hospital system, a Rhode Island bank and a Florida pet food company. Who should carry responsibility for preventing this kind of fraud: the companies, their banks or the AI tool makers?

    Answer in the thread

  3. Jacob Soall, Sharon Hazan and Guy Sheetrit have not been tried and await extradition. What would a trial need to establish to settle how much AI mattered to the scheme, compared with ordinary impersonation?

    Answer in the thread
If you have more time

  • Find out what verification steps a workplace you know requires before an employee wires a large sum. Would those steps hold up against a convincing voice of the CEO on a call?

    Answer in the thread

  • The losses ranged from $2,968,497 at a California hospital system to $11,578,474 at a UK financial technology company. What might explain which companies were targeted, and what would you look up to test that?

    Answer in the thread

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