TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – John Kuhlmann, 79, of Daytona Beach, has been sentenced to pay $1,005,313 in restitution and serve three years of supervised release for operating an unlicensed money transmitting business tied to a nationwide computer tech support fraud scheme that targeted over 300 elderly victims.
According to court records, starting in November 2018, Kuhlmann opened two Florida-based companies, Seminole Services, Inc. and QB Accounting Services, claiming to provide computer tech support. In reality, the businesses were used to collect payments from elderly victims and wire the funds to co-conspirators overseas. Victims were misled into believing their computers were hacked or infected, with some coerced into paying as much as $150,000 for fake repair services. Kuhlmann transferred approximately $3.5 million through these accounts during the scheme.
U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin described Kuhlmann as a “despicable fraudster” who exploited elderly victims for personal gain, emphasizing efforts to recover as much stolen money as possible.
The investigation was led by the United States Secret Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities highlighted the significant financial and emotional toll on victims and reaffirmed their commitment to combatting elder fraud and dismantling transnational criminal operations.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meredith L. Steer and Justin M. Keen prosecuted the case, culminating in Kuhlmann’s restitution and supervised release sentence.
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