Chicago-area rap artist Herbert Wright, 25, artistic alias “G Herbo,” admitted on Friday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making false statements to a federal official.
From March 2017 to November 2018, Wright used stolen credit information to defraud businesses and individuals nationwide, causing a total loss of $139,878, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Wright’s co-defendant and rap promoter Antonio Strong is awaiting trial, while four other co-defendants remain unidentified. Wright confessed to his own actions, which included acquiring luxury goods such as charter flights on private jets, expensive car rentals, and access to a Jamaican villa.
Furthermore, text messages revealed that Wright instructed Strong to extend the use of a luxury car and concealed the real identity of the purchaser when buying two designer Yorkshire Terriers. When the actual cardholders disputed the charges, the credit card companies back-charged the expenses to the vendor businesses and completed the fraud.
Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts Joshua Levy emphasized that Wright used stolen account information to finance his extravagant lifestyle, and this case serves as a reminder that breaking the law will lead to prosecution and accountability, regardless of one’s status.
In November 2018, Wright denied having a direct relationship with Strong to a federal agent and denied receiving any money or valuables from him. Wright and his co-defendants were indicted in December 2020, and additional charges of false statements were added against Wright in May 2021.
Wright is scheduled to be sentenced on November 7, 2023. He faces up to 20 years in prison, up to five years of parole, and a fine of up to $250,000 for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He also faces up to five years in prison, up to three years of parole, and a fine of up to $250,000 for making false statements to a federal official.
