AUSTIN, TX – A Manor man was sentenced to 40 years in prison for falsely claiming to be a Delta Force veteran and offering protective services in exchange for money.

Saint Jovite Youngblood, 52, was convicted Wednesday in federal court in Austin of four counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.

Youngblood scammed 32 victims out of more than $12 million. He committed wire fraud against his victims by claiming that drug cartel members were planning to commit violence against them, according to court documents.

Youngblood falsely represented to his victims that he was part of the U.S. Army Special Operations Delta Force and told them he could protect them, the statement said.

The man told his victims that the money would be an investment to earn a better return in the future, the statement said.

Youngblood used money from his trips to Las Vegas to gamble at casinos, according to court documents.

He was arrested on July 31, 2023 and convicted by a federal jury on April 23, 2024.

“This fraudster developed close relationships with dozens of individuals, establishing immense trust, seemingly just to destroy their lives financially through elaborate and misleading misrepresentations,” said United States Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas .

In addition to 40 years in prison, Youngblood was ordered to pay back all of $12,766,384 to his victims.