Manassas man sentenced to over two years in prison for $3.5M fraud scheme

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Manassas man was sentenced on Sept. 11 to two years and nine months in prison for orchestrating a multi-year fraud scheme that defrauded approximately 100 victims of more than $3.5 million.

According to court documents, Alexander A. Olave, 35, operated AO Elite, a company that falsely advertised a “done-for-you” e-commerce business model, claiming the company had built hundreds of online storefronts that generated $112 million in revenue for clients, and could produce guaranteed profit margins. None of these representations were true. Olave also falsely bolstered AO Elite’s credibility by directing prospective customers to a testimonial video that had been filmed for an unrelated company.

Olave collected up-front fees from victims who sought to launch online businesses, in exchange for his promise to build and maintain their e-commerce storefronts. Victims never received the storefronts they were promised. Olave used customer funds to pay himself a salary and to lease luxury homes and vehicles. When victims inquired about the progress of their storefronts, Olave made false representations to delay refunds and conceal the fraud. After AO Elite ceased operations, Olave created two additional companies using the same fraudulent business model.

Theophani K. Stamos, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Jeffrey L. Tyler, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office's Criminal Division, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert McManigal prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:26-CR-102.