Sports Agent In Rough After Conning Sponsor, Local Golf Channel Celeb

Andrew Moss, a Hawaii based sports agent, has pleaded guilty to a wire fraud charge for embezzling from a local golf sponsor. United States Attorney Catherine Hanaway announced the guilty plea today.

Moss represented Edwardsville golfer Scott Yancy III, who gained notoriety a few year's back as a contestant on a Golf Channel reality show titled Big Break II. According to charges filed in the case, Yancy met a sponsor at a charity golf tournament in St. Louis, who agreed to provide money to Yancy as he attempted to make the PGA Tour. Yancy directed him to contact Moss, who had the sponsor wire $50,000 to a bank account in Hawaii. The sponsor wired the money to that account on June 11, 2008, though Yancy never received the funds.

Instead, Moss used the money for personal expenses. When the sponsor demanded a refund, Moss obtained the sponsor's bank account number and wiring information. Moss wired $10,000, but not the complete refund. Moss then used the sponsor's account information to withdraw $21,000 from the account. In total, Moss fraudulently obtained $61,000 from the sponsor.

Moss, 26, Honolulu, Hawaii, pleaded guilty to one felony count of wire fraud before United States District Judge Henry E. Autrey.  He now faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000, when he is sentenced on June 13, 2009.