Date: April 24, 2026
Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov
United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced today that Arsen Lusher was sentenced to 42 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Dale E. Ho for perpetrating a scheme to defraud more than 20 investors of nearly nine million dollars. On Aug. 18, 2025, Lusher pled guilty to one count of wire fraud.
“Today’s 42-month sentence comes at the end of a too common story: a fast-talking fraudster promising exceptional returns but not giving investors basic information,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Arsen Lusher lied to victims about the nature of his business to line his own pockets. When the walls came closing in, Lusher doubled down, creating false documents to try to lull his victims into a false sense of security about their investments. Lusher’s fraud was brazen, and it cost his victims…
This remains the most prevalent form of financial crime globally. It targets the direct access points to your money: your cards and your bank accounts.
- Skimming: Criminals use small devices called “skimmers” placed over ATM or point-of-sale card slots to capture the data from your card’s magnetic strip.
- Card-Not-Present (CNP) Fraud: This occurs during online shopping where a physical card isn’t required. Thieves use stolen card numbers, expiry dates, and CVV codes to make unauthorized purchases.
- Account Takeover (ATO): A hacker gains access to your online banking credentials (often through malware or phishing) and changes the contact details or passwords, locking you out while they drain your funds.