KC Reporter

A Chicago man has pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to a scheme that targeted United States service members with wire fraud. Dwayne D. Adams, 33, admitted guilt before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Willie Epps, Jr., entering pleas to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of wire fraud.

Adams is the third and final defendant to plead guilty for involvement in the scheme, which focused on defrauding active members of the U.S. military through social media outreach.

According to the plea agreement, Adams and others contacted recently enlisted service members using various social media platforms. Once communication was established, conspirators posed as senior military officials and told victims they were being paid incorrectly and were owed more money by the military. The group instructed victims to return their previous pay using a cash application, claiming this would result in receiving a higher salary rate from the military. If service members complied, the funds were transferred and never returned.

Adams’ role included accepting these cash transfers and conducting financial transactions that distributed victims' money among accounts accessible by all members of the scheme.

Under federal statutes, Adams faces up to 20 years in prison without parole. However, sentencing will ultimately be determined by the court after considering advisory guidelines and other statutory factors following a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney is prosecuting the case. The Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation.