The Aporia · Rocky Balboa, Superman Cash, Fat Boy: Trio charged for using AI to steal $129 million in US

Jacob Soall, Sharon Hazan, and Guy Sheetrit, using nicknames like "Rocky Balboa," have been indicted for an AI-powered corporate impersonation scheme that defrauded companies out of approximately $129 million over 18 months. The trio used deepfake technology to mimic executives' voices and appearances in emails and video calls before instructing victims to transfer funds to international bank accounts, which were then converted into cryptocurrency. Arrests occurred between June and September across multiple countries, with Hazan previously convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud in 2008. The indictment highlights the FBI's efforts to combat such sophisticated cybercrimes involving emerging technologies.

Written by AI on 2026-11-06, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

Story summary

Three foreign nationals have been indicted on charges of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering for allegedly stealing $129 million using artificial intelligence (AI) to impersonate corporate executives and attorneys. The scheme, which ran from July 2024 to February 2026, targeted thousands of companies globally, including entities in the U.S., U.K., Spain, Israel, Missouri, California, Rhode Island, and Florida. Jacob Soall (nicknamed "Rocky Balboa" and "Seba Clarke"), Sharon Hazan ("Superman Cash," "Impossible Mission," "Fat Boy," and "Ron"), and Guy Sheetrit were arrested in Spain and the U.K. The trio used AI to mimic executives' voices and images, tricking employees into transferring funds to bank accounts they controlled. Jacob Soall was arrested in June 2026 in Spain, Sharon Hazan in August 2026 in Spain, and Guy Sheetrit in September 2026 in the U.K.

Written for “Trio Charged for AI CEO Impersonation Scam” on 2026-11-09, grounded in this article and the 5 other(s) covering the same event.

Trio Charged for AI CEO Impersonation Scam

Crime & Law · 6 article(s) covering the same event. See how they differ ↓

This article reads unscored and hedges 47% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

3 foreign nationals allegedly used AI to mimic CEOs in $129M scheme, DOJ says Same event

NBC News

Hedges 3 of 16 claims Outlet record 72/100

3 charged in scheme to use AI to impersonate CEOs and attorneys to steal $129 million Same event

Toronto Star

Hedges 1 of 2 claims Outlet record 64/100

3 charged with using AI to steal some $129 million from companies Same event

CBS News

Hedges 11 of 20 claims Outlet record 68/100

US accuses trio of using AI to impersonate CEOs and lawyers to steal US$129 million Same event

South China Morning Post

Hedges 3 of 4 claims Outlet record 62/100

Three men charged in US with using AI to impersonate CEOs and steal millions Same event

The Guardian

Hedges 7 of 16 claims Outlet record 65/100

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability

Source leaning vs. consistency

Trisha Mahajan

41 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

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The group would then direct employees to contact an attorney at a major law firm, whom they were also prepared to impersonate.

2026-11-06 · mixed framing · Rocky Balboa, Superman Cash, Fat Boy: Trio charged for using AI to steal $129 million in US

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The alleged victims included hospital systems in Missouri and California, a Rhode Island bank, a UK-based financial technology company, a Massachusetts mutual fund company and a Florida pet food company.

framing: mixed · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-11-06

The group would then direct employees to contact an attorney at a major law firm, whom they were also prepared to impersonate.

2026-11-06 · Times of India

Rocky Balboa, Superman Cash, Fat Boy: Trio charged for using AI to steal $129 million in US · mixed framing

Three people with nicknames including “Rocky Balboa”, “Superman Cash” and “Fat Boy” have been indicted in the US for allegedly using artificial intelligence to impersonate corporate executives and lawyers in a fraud scheme that targeted thousands of companies worldwide and stole around $129 million. uncertain

that → include → million

Jacob Soall, 41, Sharon Hazan, 54, and Guy Sheetrit, 42, face charges of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundering, according to an indictment filed in a US District Court in New York. uncertain

Soall → face → York

The alleged scheme ran for more than 18 months and targeted businesses across several countries, reported AP. asserted

AP → allege → countries

According to court documents, the accused primarily targeted corporate accounting departments. uncertain

accused → accord → departments

They allegedly sent emails posing as company CEOs, asking employees to facilitate confidential financial transactions. uncertain

They → send → transactions

The requests were followed by phone or video calls in which the defendants used AI to mimic the executives' voices and, in some cases, their appearances. asserted

defendants → follow → cases

The group would then direct employees to contact an attorney at a major law firm, whom they were also prepared to impersonate. asserted

they → direct → whom

Soall allegedly posed as UK-based lawyers and had a “handwritten script titled ‘Lawyer Call’” to make himself appear genuine while speaking to victims, according to the US attorney's office. uncertain

himself → pose → office

Employees were subsequently instructed to transfer large sums to bank accounts across the world. asserted

Employees → instruct → world

The money was then converted into cryptocurrency to conceal its origins before being distributed among the accused and others involved, the indictment said. asserted

indictment → convert → accused

victims → include → Missouri

The three defendants, who are from Spain, the UK, Israel and the United Arab Emirates, were arrested between June and September. asserted

who → arrest → June

Hazan was previously convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud in a New York court in 2008. asserted

Hazan → convict → 2008

FBI Assistant Director in Charge James C Barnacle Jr said the case highlighted how emerging technology could be exploited for large-scale fraud. “As criminals continue to weaponize emerging technologies, the FBI remains committed to rapidly adapting our capabilities to identify, investigate, and disrupt those who seek to harm New Yorkers and businesses operating in our communities,” he said. uncertain

he → say → communities

Lawyers for Soall and Sheetrit did not immediately respond to requests for comment. asserted

Lawyers → respond → comment

It was unclear whether Hazan had legal representation. uncertain

Hazan → have → representation

If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years on each wire fraud and money laundering charge, while aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory additional two-year sentence, according to the US attorney's office. uncertain

theft → convict → office

Rocky Balboa, Superman Cash, Fat Boy: Trio charged for using AI to steal $129 million in US

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