Getty Images
- A con artist pretended he could get criminal charges dropped in exchange for money, prosecutors say.
- He targeted troubled celebrities like George Santos and Danny Masterson.
- Hector Medina ran the scam in order to pay off his gambling debts, according to prosecutors.
A convicted con artist sought out troubled celebrities like former congressman George Santos and actor Danny Masterson, and then falsely promised to resolve their legal woes in exchange for large sums of money, federal prosecutors said.
According to a newly unsealed affidavit, Hector Medina, who went by the name Michael Soto, had prior convictions for theft and fraudulent activity.
Last July he began messaging Santos, identified in the affidavit only as the then-representative of New York's 3rd district, at a time when the controversial lawmaker was facing a slew of legal challenges, the affidavit said.
Medina sent multiple text messages, videos, and images to Santos in which he "falsely advised" that he could arrange for his criminal charges to be dropped or for evidence to be destroyed in exchange for $900,000, according to prosecutors.
In one video, Medina said: "If you're interested, I can get everything dropped, evidence that is on you removed, disappeared. Reach out to me if you're interested. It's simple yes or no."
Santos was hit with a 13-count criminal indictment in May 2023, including allegations of money laundering and public funds theft.
In October, he was also charged with conspiracy, wire fraud, and identity theft, which added 10 new charges.
And in December, Santos became only the sixth lawmaker to ever be expelled from the House.
According to prosecutors, Medina repeatedly asked Santos if he had the right number and was interested in the proposition.
In August, prosecutors said Medina sent a video to Santos in which he said: "I'm really good at what I do. I am a genius. I am a wizard when it comes to things like this. So, take advantage of the situation and let me know."
According to the affidavit, prosecutors reviewed an iCloud account associated with Medina, which appeared to show efforts to defraud other high-profile individuals.
It references texts sent to an actor convicted of felonies in California in May 2023, which the New York Post identified as Danny Masterson.
The "That '70's Show" actor was sentenced to 30 years in prison last year after being convicted of raping two women in 2003.
According to the affidavit, Medina asked Masterson for $1 million to get his case thrown out or a reduced sentence.
He also messaged Masterson's then-wife, Bijou Phillips, prosecutors said.
Medina also contacted an unnamed musician, arrested last June, and an athlete whose family member was arrested in May 2023, according to the affidavit.
According to prosecutors, in a December interview with law enforcement authorities Medina voluntarily stated that he sent the messages and that he "searched the internet for individuals who were in trouble believing they would be easy targets for his scheme."
His goal was to obtain money, they added, which he needed to pay off over $100,000 in gambling debts, according to the affidavit.
Prosecutors said that the service Medina was purporting to offer would be "illegal, constitute obstruction of justice, and does not exist."
He's charged with wire fraud and, if convicted, faces up to 20 years in prison.
It is unclear if any of the celebrities responded to the messages.
Santos did not immediately respond to BI's request for comment.