Three Charged in Alleged $129 Million AI Executive-Impersonation Fraud

U.S. prosecutors charged Jacob Soall, Sharon Hazan and Guy Sheetrit with wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundering over an alleged AI-assisted scheme that stole approximately $129 million from companies. Prosecutors allege the defendants and other conspirators targeted thousands of businesses worldwide between 2024 and 2026, using fraudulent emails and AI-generated executive voices—and sometimes images—to persuade accounting employees to authorize purportedly confidential transactions.

The alleged scheme paired CEO impersonation with follow-up communications from people posing as attorneys who directed international wire transfers. Prosecutors say stolen funds moved through international bank accounts before being converted into cryptocurrency to conceal their origins and distributed among participants. All three defendants were detained in Europe, with U.S. extradition requests pending; each faces a maximum potential sentence of 104 years. The alleged tactics underscore the need for independent verification of sensitive payment requests rather than relying on a familiar voice, image or claimed executive authority.