George Herman Ruth Indicted For Mail Fraud And Using Names Of Hundreds Of Deceased And Retired Professional Baseball Players

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On August 12, 2025, a federal grand jury returned a ninety-one-count indictment against George Herman Ruth, 69, of Morristown, for mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, fraudulent use of Social Security numbers, money laundering, making false statements to his supervising probation officer, and possessing firearms after having previously been convicted of felonies.  Ruth made his initial appearance on August 21, 2025, before the Honorable Cynthia R. Wyrick, United States Magistrate Judge, and he was detained pending further court proceedings.  A trial date has been set for January 27, 2026, before the Honorable Clifton L. Corker, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court at Greeneville.

According to the filed indictment, beginning in January 2023 and continuing until July 10, 2025, Ruth devised and implemented an elaborate, nationwide scheme to submit hundreds of fraudulent claim forms to class action administrators around the country.  When doing so, Ruth located pending class action suits and fraudulently used the names of hundreds of deceased or retired professional baseball players and the Social Security numbers of numerous unwitting victims.  Ruth also opened post office boxes around the Eastern District of Tennessee to facilitate the scheme and used a sham business, El Mundo Marketing LLC, to obtain an account through which he laundered the proceeds.  The indictment alleges that Ruth obtained or attempted to obtain more than $550,000 through the scheme.

If convicted, Ruth faces a term of imprisonment up to 20 years plus a mandatory, consecutive two-year sentence, a term of supervised release up to three years, and a fine up to $250,000.

U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton, III, of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mac D. Heavener, III will represent the United States in this prosecution.              

This indictment is the result of an investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the United States Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, and the Morristown Police Department.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. 

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