John Bragg Sentenced To Six Years For Wire Fraud

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - On July 24, 2024, John Bragg, II, 47, formerly of West Virginia, was sentenced to 72 months by the Honorable Curtis L. Collier, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Following his release from imprisonment, Bragg will be on supervised release for three years.

As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Bragg agreed to plead guilty to one count of an indictment charging him with wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1343. As a component of his sentence, Bragg was ordered to pay a money judgment of $79,500 and over $300,000 in restitution to his victims.

According to court documents, Bragg owned a business involved in the restoration and sale of classic and rare Volkswagen vehicles. The business - known as "JB Bugs Trick Truck N Rod" - maintained operations in various locations, including Tennessee and Indiana. Bragg held himself and his business out to be specialists in Volkswagen restoration, including by participating in online communities of Volkswagen enthusiasts and appearing at functions such as automobile conventions. Using that presence, he became acquainted with his victims and defrauded them. As identified in his plea agreement, one instance of such fraud included "selling" a vintage 23-window Volkswagen Microbus to various investors, despite the fact that another person owned the vehicle and Bragg was never entitled to offer it for sale.

U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement.

The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation led by the United States Secret Service in conjunction with state and local law enforcement partners in Indiana and Tennessee.

Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Wilson represented the United States.

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