Chicago-Area Rap Promoter Sentenced for Role in Nationwide Fraud Conspiracy

The U.S. Department of Justice reports in its press release (quotation, not an independent finding): “BOSTON – A Chicago man was sentenced on Oct. 8, 2026 in federal court in Springfield, Mass. for his role in a nationwide wire fraud conspiracy that victimized businesses and individuals across the United States. Steven Hayes, Jr. 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to three years of probation. The government recommended a sentence of 4-6 months in prison. Hayes was also ordered to pay $2,728 in both restitution and forfeiture. In May 2026, Hayes pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Hayes was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2020 along with five co-defendants, including rap promoter Antonio Strong, rap artists Herbert Wright and Joseph Williams, their associate Demario Sorrells and celebrity barber Terrence Bender. In February 2026, Hayes proceeded to trial, which resulted in a hung jury. Beginning in at least March 2017 through November 2018, Hayes, Strong, Williams, Sorrells, Wright and Bender conspired to defraud numerous businesses and individuals throughout the United States by using unauthorized and stolen payment card account information of real individuals – including the actual cardholders’ names, addresses, security codes and account expiration dates. Generally, because the payment card information was authentic, the defrauded businesses and individuals successfully processed the fraudulent transactions and provided the goods and services to Hayes and his co-conspirators. The actual cardholders discovered these transactions on their accounts and disputed the charges with their card companies who ”