Brooklyn Podcaster and Cryptocurrency Personality Known as “T.J. Stone” Sentenced to 45 Months’ Imprisonment

Thomas John Sfraga, also known as “T.J. Stone,” was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Brooklyn by United States District Judge Frederic Block to 45 months in prison for wire fraud.  As part of the sentence, Sfraga was ordered to pay $1,337,700 in forfeiture. The restitution amount will be determined at a later date.  Sfraga pleaded guilty in May 2024.

John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Leslie R. Backschies, Acting Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentence.

“Sfraga callously stole from friends, next-door neighbors, and the parents of children who played on teams with his own children, as well as from individual cryptocurrency investors,” stated United States Attorney Durham.  “There was nothing funny about his use of a Seinfeldian company, Vandelay Industries, to carry out this fraud, which caused severe financial and emotional harm to the hard-working men and women who trusted him.”

As set forth in the information and court filings, from at least 2016 to 2022, Sfraga held himself out as the owner and principal of multiple businesses, including Build Strong Homes LLC and Vandelay Contracting Corp.  The latter company had a name similar to the fictional “Vandelay Industries,” which the character George Constanza falsely claimed to have interviewed with for a job in the television show “Seinfeld.” Sfraga held himself out as “T.J. Stone,” a serial entrepreneur with experience in real estate development, media relations, podcasting, and cryptocurrencies, which included acting as the emcee of many cryptocurrency events in New York.

Sfraga defrauded at least 17 victims, including victims in Brooklyn, Staten Island and Long Island, by convincing them to loan him money for, or to invest in, multiple sham investments including purchasing, renovating, and “flipping” homes.  On one occasion, Sfraga convinced a victim to lend him $100,000 in cash as start-up costs for a non-existent construction project.  On yet another occasion, Sfraga convinced a victim to invest in a fictitious cryptocurrency “virtual wallet.”  He promised the victims returns on their investments as high as 60% in three months.  In reality, however, Sfraga used the money entrusted to him by the victims for his own benefit, to pay expenses, and to pay earlier victims and business associates.  When law enforcement began investigating Sfraga after victims filed lawsuits, he fled to Arizona to live under a false identity. Sfraga was eventually apprehended in Las Vegas after being arrested for running out on his bill at the Wynn Casino.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Business and Securities Fraud Section.  Assistant United States Attorney John Vagelatos is in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Paralegal Specialist Madison Bates.

The Defendant:

THOMAS JOHN SFRAGA (also known as “T.J. Stone”)
Age:  56
Brooklyn, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 24-CR-194 (FB)