Three Accused of Using AI to Steal $129 Million

The indictment names Jacob Soall, 41, Sharon Hazan, 54, and Guy Sheetrit, 42. Prosecutors say that over more than 18 months, they targeted thousands of businesses and organizations, including hospitals in Missouri and California, a Rhode Island bank and a Florida pet food company. The three also face money laundering charges.

Court documents describe a scheme aimed at company accounting teams. The defendants allegedly sent messages posing as chief executives and sought help with supposed confidential transactions. They then arranged calls in which AI was used to imitate an executive’s voice and, at times, appearance.

The targets were directed to contact a supposed lawyer at a major law firm. The indictment says the group impersonated attorneys as well, and that Soall often posed as lawyers from the United Kingdom. A handwritten document titled “Lawyer Call” was allegedly used to help him sound convincing.

Employees were then told to transfer large sums to accounts around the world. Prosecutors say the money was converted into cryptocurrency to obscure its origins and distributed among the defendants and others. The alleged victims also included a British financial technology company and a Massachusetts mutual fund firm.

Soall and Hazan were arrested in Spain, while Sheetrit was arrested in the United Kingdom; the arrests took place between June and September. Extradition requests are pending. Hazan was convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud in New York in 2008. If convicted, the defendants could face up to 20 years on the main charges and two years for aggravated identity theft.