Philippines-Based American Fraudster Pleads Guilty to Targeting Thousands of U.S. Servicemembers and Veterans

Robert Wayne Boling Jr., 45, a U.S. citizen who previously resided in the Philippines, pleaded guilty today for his role in an identity-theft and fraud scheme that victimized thousands of U.S. servicemembers and veterans. 

According to court documents, Boling operated from the Philippines, and he received and exploited stolen personally identifiable information (PII) of U.S. servicemembers and veterans to compromise their bank accounts and steal money and veterans’ benefits. 

“Those who courageously served our nation deserve our gratitude and protection — not to become targets for criminals seeking to profit from their sacrifice,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This defendant betrayed our country by exploiting personal information belonging to thousands of military-affiliated individuals, including elderly and disabled veterans, in a calculated scheme to steal from those who have given so much. Today’s guilty plea demonstrates that the Department of Justice will pursue those who prey on America’s servicemembers and veterans, no matter how sophisticated the schemes may be.” 

“We in the Western District of Texas, in partnership with Justice Department’s Criminal Division, have worked for years to get Robert Boling Jr. back from the Philippines and hold him accountable for the crimes he committed against those who serve our nation and their families,” said U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “This defendant and his fellow fraudsters served themselves by stealing from those who selflessly serve our country. We will always work tirelessly to fully prosecute those who prey on others in this manner, especially when the victims of those crimes are servicemembers.”