• Utah entrepreneur Brian Sewell misplaced greater than $2.9 million to 17 traders.
• He was sentenced to a few years in federal jail for wire fraud involving unauthorized cryptocurrency transactions.
• He additionally moved almost $5.4 million via unauthorized cash-to-cryptocurrency providers.

Southern Utah entrepreneur Brian Garry Sewell was sentenced to a few years in federal jail on January 15, 2026 by the Utah U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace. Prosecutors have linked him to a long-running wire fraud scheme involving digital currencies. Authorities say Mr. Sewell persuaded traders at hand over their funds and digital belongings by selling himself as an skilled skilled who may usher in giant income.

The investigation discovered that Sewell value traders greater than $2.3 billion in losses. As well as, Sewell admitted to working a cash-to-cryptocurrency enterprise with no license, and Service investigators stated he contributed to the motion of huge quantities of suspicious funds.

Courtroom outlines fraud and losses for traders

In line with federal courtroom information, Sewell ran the funding scheme from December 2017 to April 2024. Throughout that point, prosecutors stated it raised cash from at the very least 17 traders.

He relied on false claims about his background and accomplishments to safe extra deposits. Because of this, victims trusted him with funds that by no means delivered the promised outcomes.

Choose Ann Marie McHud Allen sentenced Sewell to 36 months in jail, adopted by three years of supervised launch. Moreover, the courtroom ordered Sewell to pay $3,605,182 in restitution in reference to the wire fraud case.

Repayments will go to defrauded traders, mortgage lenders and credit score unions. Officers stated the damages replicate each direct losses and associated financial damages associated to the conduct.

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Unlicensed cash-to-crypto companies come below scrutiny

Sewell was going through prices for working an unlicensed cash switch enterprise from March 2020 to September 2020, separate from the investor case. In line with courtroom paperwork, Mr. Sewell ran Rockwell Capital Administration, which dealt with bulk money conversions into cryptocurrencies. Prosecutors stated the corporate moved greater than $5.4 million via these transactions.

Investigators stated the service was utilized by third events, together with criminals concerned in fraud and drug trafficking. Moreover, authorities stated Sewell collected the charges in disregard of federal compliance guidelines that assist spot and cease soiled cash. The courtroom ordered Sewell to repay an extra $217,727 in restitution to the U.S. Division of Homeland Safety.

Federal companies concentrate on enforcement

Importantly, this ruling combines the 2 legal circumstances into one jail sentence, because the decide ordered each sentences to be served concurrently. Subsequently, Mr. Sewell’s time period can be for a complete of three years. The investigation concerned the IRS Legal Investigation, the FBI in Salt Lake Metropolis, and Homeland Safety Investigations.

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