Man sentenced in Springfield for using dark web to fund Chicago rapper’s lavish lifestyle

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A man from the Chicago area was sentenced in Springfield federal court in connection with his role in a nationwide fraud conspiracy.

According to the Department of Justice, 38-year-old Demario Sorrells of Rockford, Illinois along with five others allegedly conspired to defraud numerous businesses and individuals by using unauthorized and stolen payment card account information of real people.

Sorrells provided illicit account information that he obtained from the dark web for purchases, used private jets, and commercial flights, and stayed in hotels. Sorrells was responsible for $106,000 in victim losses.

Sorrells pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. On Friday, he was sentenced to three years of probation, $106,000 in restitution, and $106,000 in forfeiture.

The additional co-defendants include rapper Herbert Wright III (known as G Herbo), rap promoter Antonio Strong, Joseph Williams, Steven Hayes, Jr., and Terrance Bender.

• Strong pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud, and he is scheduled to be sentenced on September 19th.
• Wright pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of making a false statement to a federal official and was sentenced to three years probation and was ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture of $139,968.
• Williams pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and was sentenced to three years’ probation and was ordered to pay restitution of $155,392 and forfeiture of $102,116.

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