Florida Man Charged With Defrauding Four Individuals in Illinois Out of $180,000 in Investment Scam

A Florida man, Makaio’ Kekoa, 39, has been charged with defrauding four individuals out of at least $180,000 through false investment opportunities. Between 2019 and 2022, he falsely claimed he could provide short-term, high-yield investments that did not exist. Instead, he allegedly used the funds for personal expenses, including gambling. Kekoa, who has previously used names like Lorenzo Hood, pleaded not guilty during an arraignment in Chicago and is scheduled to return to court on September 24.