MANOR, Texas — A Central Texas man has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for money laundering and wire fraud after allegedly scamming victims by using false threats of violence from the Mexican cartel.
Court documents show that Manor resident Saint Jovite Youngblood, also known as Kota Youngblood, claimed to work for the U.S. Army Delta Force's Special Operations Unit. He told his victims he could protect them from the cartel, for a fee.
The 52-year-old collected money from victims, claiming he would give them their funds back, but instead spending most of it traveling to Las Vegas to gamble.
In total, Youngblood – whose victims have called him a "fantastic con man" – swindled over $12 million from 32 people. Now, in addition to decades in prison, he must pay back his victims' money in full after being sentenced for one count of money laundering and four counts of wire fraud.
When was Youngblood arrested and who did he target?
After 13 years of allegedly scamming victims, Youngblood was arrested in July 2023 at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, when officials said he was heading to Las Vegas.
He was placed in a Waco detention center this February. He then went to trial in April and was convicted for wire fraud and money laundering.
"This fraudster developed close relationships with dozens of individuals, building an immense amount of trust seemingly just to destroy their lives financially through elaborate, deceitful misrepresentations," Western District of Texas U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza said.
One of these victims was Eric Perardi, a Cedar Park developer whose son played on the same hockey team as Youngblood's son, according to an FBI agent. Over two years ago, Peradi said he paid Youngblood $900,000 for protection from the cartel, but did not receive his money back.
In 2023, Peradi cooperated with FBI agents to conduct a sting in North Austin, exactly two months before the day of Youngblood's arrest.