Two senior technology executives have pleaded guilty in a federal case tied to a sprawling international tech-support fraud network that preyed on elderly victims across the United States and abroad. Federal prosecutors and FBI investigative findings confirm that the case centers on allegations that a telecommunications services company knowingly provided infrastructure to facilitate large-scale scam operations, ultimately draining millions from consumers.
"This was downright despicable." — FBI Boston Special Agent in Charge Ted E. Docks
Adam Young, 42, of Miami, identified as the former CEO, and Harrison Gevirtz, 33, of Las Vegas, the former Chief Strategy Officer, admitted in federal court that they operated a business supplying critical call routing systems, telephone numbers, tracking tools, and forwarding services. Prosecutors allege that they provided these services to clients they knew were engaged in illegal tech-support fraud. Both executives pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony and are scheduled for sentencing on June 16.
According to investigators, the sophisticated operation dates back to at least 2016. It involved intricate coordination between the defendants’ firm and overseas call centers, primarily based in India, which executed deceptive pop-up scams. Victims, often seniors, were tricked into believing their computers were infected with malicious software. They were then directed to call fake support numbers where scammers pressured them into paying for fraudulent technical services that were either unnecessary or never performed. In some alarming instances, the operators gained remote access to victims’ devices, enabling them to extract sensitive financial and personal data, leading to significant financial losses.
The scheme's reach expanded internationally, involving a wide network of telemarketing fraud groups that collectively defrauded victims of millions of dollars. The federal investigation has already secured convictions for five individuals based in India who were connected to the operation, as well as a former employee of the defendants’ call-routing company. Additional convictions linked to the broader investigation have also been obtained in federal court in California, highlighting the extensive nature of the criminal enterprise.
Court filings further allege that Young and Gevirtz were not merely passive enablers. They were reportedly alerted to suspicious activity on multiple occasions through complaints from legitimate telecom providers and various law enforcement agencies. Despite these explicit warnings, prosecutors contend that the executives failed to report the known fraud and continued to support clients engaged in illicit operations. In some cases, they allegedly went further, providing guidance on how customers could circumvent detection and reduce the likelihood of fraud-related shutdowns, effectively aiding the criminals in evading justice.
Investigators also determined that the company not only enabled external fraud networks but allegedly operated its own call center in Tunisia, where employees were directly involved in similar tech-support scams. Prosecutors argue this demonstrates direct operational awareness and involvement in the fraudulent activities, rather than simply being a passive service provider.
FBI Boston Special Agent in Charge Ted E. Docks condemned the actions, stating, "This was downright despicable." He emphasized that the defendants knowingly profited from schemes that specifically targeted elderly and vulnerable victims, causing immense financial and emotional devastation. Agent Docks reiterated that tech-support scams continue to cost Americans billions of dollars annually, underscoring the severe impact of such crimes on national consumer well-being.
The FBI has consistently identified tech-support fraud as one of the fastest-growing cyber-enabled scams in the country. Victims frequently lose hundreds or even thousands of dollars per incident, making these schemes particularly damaging. Officials note that this case serves as a stark reminder of how criminal networks increasingly leverage legitimate-looking telecommunications infrastructure to obscure their illegal activities, making detection and prosecution more challenging.
Prosecutors confirmed that the U.S. Attorney’s Office is handling the case, with sentencing pending before a federal judge who will consider federal guidelines and other statutory factors. Officials anticipate that the outcome of this case could significantly influence how telecommunications providers are held accountable when their services are knowingly used to support fraud networks. The prosecution underscores increasing federal scrutiny of companies that provide communications infrastructure to overseas fraud rings, particularly those employing increasingly sophisticated online deception tactics to target vulnerable senior citizens.
