Woman pleads guilty in $1.2 billion plot targeting Wes Edens, co-owner of the Milwaukee Bucks and Aston Villa, and co-founder of Fortress Investment

01Summary

1. 01Changli 'Sophia' Luo pleaded guilty on Tuesday in Manhattan federal court to fraud tied to a plot to extort more than $1.2 billion from Wes Edens.
2. 02She faces up to 20 years in prison at sentencing in February; a trial had been set for Nov. 16 before the plea.
3. 03Luo demanded at least $900 million through a mediator in November 2024, rising to $1.215 billion by January 2025.
4. 04FBI agents on May 28, 2025, found a purple iPhone and two flash drives hidden in a package of sanitary pads in Luo's apartment.
5. 05Separate charges involve two other men: Victim-2 had a $4,500 Apple Store purchase made on his credit card, and Victim-3 was asked for $50,000 in spending money.