A US citizen who operated a financial fraud scheme from the Philippines has pleaded guilty to stealing money and government benefits from American military personnel and veterans. The case involved personal information taken from US Army records and used to gain unauthorized access to victims’ financial accounts.
Robert Wayne Boling Jr., 45, admitted his involvement in the conspiracy on October 20, 2026, according to the US Department of Justice. Prosecutors said the operation affected thousands of military-affiliated individuals, including elderly and disabled veterans who depended on government benefits.
The scheme relied on information obtained by Fredrick Brown, a civilian medical records administrator employed by the US Army in South Korea. Brown photographed sensitive personal details belonging to thousands of servicemembers and other military-affiliated individuals before providing the records to Boling.
Using the stolen information, Boling and his associates accessed bank accounts and online government benefits accounts belonging to the victims. The criminals then diverted funds and used a network of intermediaries in the United States to receive and transfer the stolen money.
These intermediaries, commonly known as money mules, provided bank accounts for receiving fraudulent payments. Some of the proceeds were subsequently transferred to the Philippines, where Boling was operating.
Boling was returned to the United States from the Philippines in May 2026 to face criminal charges. He has now pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, each carrying a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.
His sentencing is scheduled for January 14, 2027. Although the combined statutory maximum is 40 years, the actual punishment will be determined by a federal judge.
Two other participants have already received prison sentences for their involvement. Brown was sentenced to 151 months, while Trorice Crawford received a 46-month sentence. Both previously pleaded guilty.
Two additional suspected conspirators, Jongmin Seok and Allan Albert Kerr, remain fugitives. Federal investigators continue pursuing individuals connected to the operation.