A Katy resident has pleaded guilty to participating in a scheme that defrauded more than 40 victims of over $17 million, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei for the Southern District of Texas.
Christopher Knight Lopez, 40, admitted guilt to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Prosecutors said that from May 2015 to January 2025, Lopez and his brother, Jayson Lopez, along with others, misled clients by providing false information about companies in which they were encouraged to invest. The group used forged bank letters and fabricated account statements to convince investors of the companies’ financial stability.
The operation was conducted through several limited liability companies, including Knight Nguyen Investments, Knight Advisory and Planning, Aevum Holdings Inc., Exempt Management LLC, and Ping An Financial Services Pte. Authorities said the brothers diverted client funds for personal use and paid supposed returns to other investors in order to maintain the appearance of profitable investments.
Both Christopher and Jayson Lopez also acknowledged making false claims about having access to $2 billion in U.S. Treasury bonds. They told clients these funds could be used for business financing if large advance fees were paid; however, after collecting the fees, no loans were issued.
The fraudulent activity resulted in significant losses for individuals—including senior citizens investing retirement savings or children’s college funds—as well as local and international businesses.
“These defendants turned an investment firm into their own personal piggy bank, leaving shattered futures in their wake. Christopher Knight Lopez’s clients trusted him with their life savings—he rewarded that trust with lies in the form of false promises, forged documents, and fictitious assets,” said Ganjei. “The Southern District of Texas can be counted upon to relentlessly pursue those who would financially prey on members of our community. Be warned; if your business model is nothing more than a scam, and your clients are nothing more than intended victims, you can expect a visit from us.”
“For over a decade, Christopher Lopez shamelessly defrauded senior citizens, local businesses, close friends, and international acquaintances out of more than $17 million through deceit and lies,” said Special Agent in Charge of FBI Houston Jason Hudson. “Even after being federally charged, Lopez continued to scam victims, resulting in a superseding indictment. Today’s conviction is a testament to the FBI’s commitment to aggressively pursue fraudulent schemes that target members of our communities, especially our senior citizens.”
U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison accepted Christopher Lopez’s plea and scheduled sentencing for May 7. He faces up to ten years in federal prison and a possible fine up to $250,000.
Jayson Lopez previously pleaded guilty to the same charge; his sentencing is set for April 2, 2026.
Nadir Abdel Torres of Mandan, North Dakota also pleaded guilty for assisting with obtaining forged documents; he faces up to five years at his sentencing on March 12.
The investigation was led by the FBI with help from the Securities and Exchange Commission. Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin R. Martin is prosecuting the case.
The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas operates under the Department of Justice and serves under the Attorney General. The office has locations across Houston as well as Galveston, Corpus Christi, Laredo, McAllen and Brownsville as described on its official website. It employs over 200 attorneys covering 43 counties with a population exceeding nine million according to its website, focusing on prosecuting federal crimes and handling civil cases for the government as detailed online. Notable former leaders include Alamdar Hamdani (2022-2025) and Ryan Patrick as listed on its history page.
