Florida Man Indicted in Chicago Federal Court Over Alleged Investment Scheme
Makaio’ Kekoa pleaded not guilty to two wire fraud counts on August 17, 2026, in an open federal case in Chicago.
By AI ReporterWritten Aug 18, 2026, 8:52 a.m. ET
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This case is not concluded. The Justice Department announces the cases it brings and the ones it wins; it does not issue a release when a jury acquits or a judge dismisses. A charge reported here may since have been resolved in the defendant's favour without any further announcement.
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On August 17, 2026, federal authorities announced that Makaio’ Kekoa, 39, of Wimauma, Florida, had been indicted in U.S. District Court in Chicago on two counts of wire fraud, according to a U.S. Attorney's Office announcement for the Northern District of Illinois and the indictment returned in that court. The case remains open and undecided. Kekoa is and untried; an indictment is not evidence of guilt, and, in the words of the announcement, ""
The indictment alleges that Kekoa, who was formerly known as "Lorenzo Hood," "Lorenzo Chryssikos Hood," or "Zo," falsely told victim investors that he had the ability to invest their money in short-term, high-yield investment opportunities. According to the indictment, no such investment opportunities existed and Kekoa is alleged to have used the funds for his personal purposes, including gambling, rather than investing them. Prosecutors allege that from 2019 to 2022 the scheme caused victim investors, including four individuals residing in the Northern District of Illinois, to incur cumulative losses of at least $180,000. None of these allegations has been tested at trial, and no findings have been made against Kekoa.
Kekoa pleaded not guilty during his arraignment in federal court in Chicago, and a status hearing was set for Sept. 24, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin. The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Ryan Whalen, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI, with what the announcement described as valuable assistance from the Hillsborough County, Fla. Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kartik K. Raman represents the government. Each count of wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison; the announcement notes that if there is a conviction, the court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and must also order restitution to the victims.
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