Following a three-day trial in Knoxville, Tennessee, Joshua Aaron Holmes, 43, from Atlanta, has been convicted of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Holmes also faces charges of mail fraud and wire fraud, and could receive up to 20 years in prison for his involvement in a scheme exploiting elderly investors.
The evidence at trial demonstrated that Holmes and others fraudulently persuaded victims to invest money, and then proceeded to falsely present themselves as federal agents claiming to assist in recovering the lost funds. The victims were induced to further pay fabricated fees, taxes, and court costs, which only compounded their financial losses. The Honorable Katherine A. Crytzer, United States District Judge, will sentence Holmes at a later date yet to be determined.
United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III and Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico led the announcement of the conviction. The case was brought to trial following a thorough investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Securities and Exchange Commission…