A 52-year-old lady, with the assistance of a former Merrill Lynch financial advisor, is accused of stealing thousands and thousands from former Miami Dolphins Pro Bowl safety Reshad Jones over a two-year interval, in response to an arrest report obtained by Local 10 News on Thursday.
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Fort Lauderdale police say Isaiah Williams, who served as Jones’ financial advisor between January 2022 and March 2024, allegedly abused his entry to the athlete’s private checking account, stealing roughly $1.58 million in 133 wire transfers to repay two of his American Express bank cards.
Court data present Williams used Jones’ cash to fund a lavish life-style, together with first-class airline tickets, lodge stays with a number of girls, nightclub tabs, strip golf equipment, automobile leases, designer garments, jewellery, authorized charges and even baby assist.
Police additionally stated Williams went on duty-free procuring sprees in Mexico.
But the crimes didn’t cease there, authorities stated.
Detectives stated one other $1.03 million was laundered from Jones’ account with assist from Octavia Monique Graham, of Dallas, Georgia — whom Jones, 37, of Plantation, informed investigators he had by no means met.
Between October 2019 and September 2021, 16 handwritten checks totaling about $435,000 had been pulled from Graham’s account and deposited into Williams’ Chase checking account, in response to the report.
Additionally, authorities stated 88 Zelle transfers totaling about $184,000 had been additionally created from Graham’s Bank of America account to Williams.
In whole, Jones’ losses added as much as roughly $2.58 million, police stated. The former Dolphins safety informed detectives that he’s urgent prices.
Jail data present Graham, after surrendering herself on Monday, is going through two counts of cash laundering and one depend of first-degree grand theft.
Graham appeared in a Broward courtroom Friday, the place a decide set her set her bond at $75,000. She was additionally ordered to not contact Jones and Williams. She stays on the Paul Rein Detention Facility.
Graham is scheduled to be arraigned at 9 a.m. on July 7.
Williams had not but been arrested for the alleged crimes, in response to courtroom paperwork.
In addition to the prison investigation, data from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority present that Williams was just lately barred from the securities trade following allegations of severe misconduct.
According to his BrokerCheck report, Williams resigned from Merrill Lynch in December 2024 amid allegations of “misappropriation, unsuitable asset allocation, misrepresentations and an improper outside business activity.”
That report additionally said an investor filed a criticism in opposition to him in the identical month, echoing those self same accusations.
In response to the case, Jones’ attorneys Chase Carlson, of Carlson Law, and Jeff Sonn, of Sonn Law Group, launched this assertion to Local 10 News on Friday:
“This is yet another troubling example of a professional athlete being exploited by a wealth management firm he trusted. In this case, the wrongdoer was a Vice President at one of the world’s largest financial institutions — Bank of America’s investment management division, Merrill Lynch. We have filed a lawsuit to hold Merrill Lynch accountable and are working to recover all damages our client has suffered.”
A spokesperson from Bank of America, who confirmed that Williams no longer works for Merrill Lynch, also released a statement to Local 10 News, which you can read here:
“Whenever we learn of potential wrongdoing, we promptly investigate, fully cooperate with regulators and law enforcement, and work with the client to compensate them for any harm caused by an employee. Putting clients first and protecting client assets have been guiding principles of Merrill since our founding more than 100 years ago.”
Editor’s be aware: This story has been up to date to appropriate the suspect’s age.
