A Southern Utah man has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for a crypto-linked wire fraud scheme that defrauded investors of nearly $3 million and ran an unlicensed cash-to-crypto business moving over $5 million.
Brian Garry Sewell, 54, was ordered to pay over $3.6 million in restitution after pleading guilty to wire fraud affecting at least 17 investors. He also pleaded guilty to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business through Rockwell Capital Management between March and September 2020.
Prosecutors said Sewell convinced investors he had the experience to generate large returns, but instead cost them more than $2.9 million between December 2017 and April 2024. In a separate operation, his business converted over $5.4 million in bulk cash to crypto for third parties, including criminals involved in fraud and drug trafficking.
U.S. District Court Judge Ann Marie McIff Allen sentenced Sewell to 36 months in prison followed by 36 months of supervised release. The restitution order includes $3,605,182 to defrauded investors and a mortgage lender, plus $217,727 to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
“The FBI will continue to put victims first by holding offenders accountable and pursuing those who misuse cryptocurrency and unlicensed financial services to exploit others,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls of the Salt Lake City FBI.
The sentencing comes amid rising crypto crime. Illicit crypto addresses received a record $154 billion in 2025, a 162% increase from 2024, according to Chainalysis.
