The U.S. Department of Justice announced that Jeremy Todd Briley, an Oregon payment processing broker, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud for helping sham companies use U.S. payment processors to make fraudulent, unauthorized debits from victims’ bank accounts. According to court documents, Briley identified payment processors for merchant clients, and his two largest clients falsely claimed to provide online marketing services while causing more than USD 14 million in unauthorized debits and attempted debits. From February 2017 to December 2023, Briley obtained and maintained payment processing relationships for those companies while knowing they were fraudulently debiting bank accounts. Despite repeatedly receiving information that the debits were not authorized, he concealed the companies’ activities and arranged for a payment processor to manipulate return rates to deceive banks. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 20 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, with sentencing to be determined by a federal district court judge after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The case is being investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General.
U.S. Department of Justice 2026-04-30
U.S. Department of Justice announces wire fraud guilty plea by payment processing broker in USD 14 million unauthorized debit scheme
The U.S. Department of Justice announced that Oregon-based payment processing broker Jeremy Todd Briley pleaded guilty to wire fraud for helping sham companies use U.S. payment processors to make more than USD 14 million in fraudulent, unauthorized debits from victims’ bank accounts. From February 2017 to December 2023, Briley maintained payment processing relationships, concealed the companies’ activities, and arranged manipulation of return rates to deceive banks. He faces up to 20 years in prison, with sentencing to be determined by a federal district court judge.