St. Augustine Man Sentenced to More Than Six Years in Prison for Defrauding Senior of More Than $2 Million

Jacksonville, Florida – Eric James Stone (43, St. Augustine) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jordan E. Pratt to six years and eight months in federal prison for committing wire fraud and money laundering. Stone was also ordered to pay $2,037,103 in restitution to his victim. He pleaded guilty on March 24, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement. According to court documents, Stone used his position as a financial advisor to befriend the victim, a 75-year-old woman, in order to solicit money from her. During the span of approximately three years, Stone convinced the victim to make over 600 transactions, sending him money that amounted to over $2 million. To convince the victim to send him money, Stone sent fraudulent emails from purported attorneys, banks, and other internet websites. Stone spent most of the victim’s money on foreign gambling websites. “Our seniors are among our nation’s most vulnerable population and must be protected,” said U.S. Attorney Kehoe. “The defendant in this case used his position of trust to deliberately deceive and exploit the victim for his own personal gain. For that, he will be punished for his crimes.” “Every dollar stolen is a story of hardship for the victim, and IRS-CI is dedicated to making sure those stories end with accountability,” said Ron Loecker, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation, Florida Field Office. “Our agents’ expertise in tracing complex financial transactions is unmatched. IRS-CI Special Agents are the backbone of financial crime enforcement.” “Stealing $2 million isn’t just a financial crime, it’s a betrayal of trust that has life-altering consequences for a victim long after the crime is committed,” said FBI Jacksonville Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley. “This sentence sends a clear message: fraudsters who think they can lie and steal will face the consequences of their actions. The FBI will work with our partners to ensure those who exploit others for financial gain are brought to justice. You can’t hide from accountability.” This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John Cannizzaro. Assistant United States Attorney Clint J. Locke is handling the forfeiture.