Montgomery, AL – Today, Acting United States Attorney Jonathan S. Ross, along with Alabama Securities Commission Director Amanda Senn, announced that a federal judge sentenced Nicholas Houston Allen, 36, a resident of Montgomery, Alabama, to 76 months in prison for fraud targeting the elderly. The United States Secret Service and the Alabama Securities Commission Enforcement Section provided valuable assistance in the investigation and prosecution of this case.
Previously, Allen pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud after scamming an elderly victim of approximately $250,000 between 2020 to 2021. Allen convinced the victim to give him money to remodel a home Allen claimed to have inherited from his mother. However, those claims were false, and Allen used the money for his own personal benefit. Court records show that this victim was not the only one to be targeted by Allen. During Allen’s sentencing hearing, four other elderly victims were identified. Allen solicited money and made numerous misrepresentations to each of them. He then used their funds for his own benefit.
During the February 15, 2024, sentencing hearing, the judge characterized Allen’s conduct towards the victims as “cruel” and concluded that Allen’s conduct warranted a sentence even greater than the highest sentence recommended by the advisory Sentencing Guidelines. In addition to a prison sentence, the judge ordered Allen to pay restitution in the amount of $369,703.60.
“Each year, far too many seniors are financially exploited,” said Acting United States Attorney Ross. “Crimes like this one can be devastating, depriving individuals of their resources, their independence, and their dignity. I am grateful to the other agencies involved in this case for identifying Nicholas Allen’s crimes and providing justice to his victims.”
“The Alabama Securities Commission has no higher priority than fighting the scourge of elder abuse,” said Alabama Securities Commission Director Senn. “We are dedicated to working with our fellow federal and state law enforcement partners to eradicate this monstrous behavior. We will leave no stone unturned to find and punish its heartless perpetrators.”
Combatting elder abuse and financial fraud targeted at seniors is a key priority of the Department of Justice. The mission of the Department’s Elder Justice Initiative is to support and coordinate the Department’s efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect, and financial fraud scams that target our nation’s seniors. To learn more, visit https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice. The public is encouraged to report victimization and suspected fraud schemes by calling the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).
The United States Secret Service and the Alabama Securities Commission investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Michelle R. Turner and Special Assistant United States Attorney Louis V. Franklin, Sr., of the Alabama Securities Commission prosecuted the case.