United States v. Ryan Young

2:18-CR-46-JMA (E.D.NY)and 2:23-cr-70-JMA (E.D.NY)

Court Assigned: These cases are assigned to the Honorable Joan M. Azrack, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York

The information in Case No. 2:18-CR-46 charges Ryan Young with conspiracy to commit mail fraud.  According to the charges, from November 2011 through November 2016, Young operated a mail fraud scheme that involved sending letters to U.S. consumers falsely telling them that they had won cash awards or luxury prizes in contests that were purportedly sponsored by official-sounding yet fictitious entities such as “Cash Payout Disbursement Advisors,” “Progressive Winners Guarantors,” and “Vehicle Transport Company.”  The letters directed victims to send a small amount of money – usually $20 to $30 – to pay purported processing or delivery fees.  In reality, the victims had won no prizes.  In most cases the victims received nothing in return for their payment.  In some cases, the victims received a report listing unrelated sweepstakes the victim could enter or a piece of fake jewelry of nominal value.

The information in Case No. 2:23-CR-70 charges Ryan Young with conspiracy to commit mail fraud.  According to the charges, from March 2019 through May 2022, Young operated a mail fraud scheme that involved sending solicitation letters that falsely notified victims that they were entitled to receive unclaimed funds worth millions of dollars, a portion of a multi-million dollar legal settlement, or a prize in exchange for payment of a small fee.  The solicitation letters directed the victims to send a small amount of money – usually $30 to $40 – to pay purported processing and delivery fees in order to receive delivery of the non-existent funds or prizes.  In truth, the victims owed no fees and were not entitled to receive unclaimed funds, legal settlements, or prizes.  Victims who paid fees received one of the following items: a booklet providing publicly available information regarding government Unclaimed Property Divisions in various states; a booklet providing publicly available information regarding a few class action settlements; or a flyer regarding online restaurant coupons.

Scheduled Court Hearing

                                Sentencing Hearing

                                January 31, 2024 at 3:30 p.m.

                            United States District Court, Eastern District of New York

                                Long Island Courthouse

                             100 Federal Plaza

                             Courtroom 920

                             Central Islip, NY 11722

If you are a victim of the offense being charged in this case, you may contact the Victim-Witness Coordinator in the Eastern District of New York to help you exercise your rights. 

For information or assistance, please contact:

Lisa Foster

Victim Witness Coordinator

U.S. Attorney’s Office – Eastern District of New York

(718) 254-6256

Under the “Justice for All Act of 2004,” codified at 18 U.S.C. §3771, a crime victim has specified rights. More information regarding such rights can be found at 18 U.S.C. §3771.

For further information, please see the Justice for All Act (2004) Case Notifications.