TAMPA, Fla. — The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is asking for people allegedly victimized by a man in a wire fraud and money laundering scheme to come forward.
Agents say Matthew "Matt" Thrash is accused of using various methods over the past 12 years to defraud people of their hard-earned money, including here in Tampa.
According to the indictment, between Jan. 1, 2012, and Nov. 6, 2024, Thrash reportedly presented himself as a "successful businessman with lucrative investment opportunities" to defraud people.
Instead of investing the money into said businesses, as his alleged victims thought, Thrash used the funds for his personal use.
Now, the FBI is asking for people who were victims of Thrash's schemes or anyone who may have information about this investigation to come forward and fill out a form online.
The FBI indictment said Thrash was involved in the following types of schemes.
Sports management scheme
The FBI says Thrash repeatedly presented himself as a "sports management agent" representing pro and semi-pro athletes. At times, he reportedly falsely claimed to be an agent working for the Major League Baseball Association and said he represented or was working to represent athletes.
However, Thrash was never a certified or registered player agent with the MLB during the scheme, according to the indictment.
Thrash reportedly started several sports management agencies where he would work to recruit pro and semi-pro athletes, including the following businesses:
- Thrash Sports Management in September 2010 in Lufkin, Texas
- Thrash and Henderson Sports Management LLC in July 2013 in Beaumont, Texas. The FBI says "Henderson" didn't know his name was being used to establish the LLC.
- Harvey & Thrash Sports LLC in December 2018 in Lufkin, Texas
Pete Rose memorabilia store scheme
Thrash reportedly claimed to be buying or have an ownership interest in a sports memorabilia store in Las Vegas, Nevada. He reportedly said the store was in the Mandalay Bay Casino and claimed the store, sometimes called the "Charlie Hustle" store, sold Pete Rose memorabilia.
During this scheme, Thrash allegedly got money from people who thought they were investing in the store. He also allegedly claimed he represented Pete Rose and that Rose was involved in Thrash's business and investment opportunities.
The FBI said Thrash "did not have any interest" in said store and never worked with or represented Pete Rose.
Vegas cannabis store scheme
The indictment says Thrash claimed to own or planned to own cannabis dispensaries in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Names of those stores included the following:
- Pisos
- Pisos 2
- Toke (or "Toke Lounge")
- Cannabis 7
The FBI says multiple people gave money to Thrash believing they were buying stock or interest in a dispensary. To make his scheme appear more legitimate, Thrash allegedly had documents such as stock purchase agreements, floorplans, photographs and videos of him touring a supposed location of a new dispensary.
Pisos Dispensary was a legitimate cannabis dispensary in Las Vegas, but Thrash never had an ownership interest or any business relationship with the dispensary's owners and managers, according to the indictment. He was not authorized to open any new locations.
TK Investments, LLC reportedly was listed as a principal for Pisos Dispensary, according to Texas Secretary of State records. He reportedly gave many of his alleged victims stock purchase agreements for business shares, claiming this business was involved with the dispensary.
How to report if you were a victim
The FBI is asking anyone who believes they were victimized by Thrash in one of his alleged schemes to submit a short form. Anyone with relevant information about the investigation is also asked to fill out the form.
You can find the FBI's form by clicking or tapping here.