Former U.S. House of Representatives member Terrance John “TJ” Cox, aged 61 and a resident of Fresno, has pleaded guilty to charges involving wire fraud. Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith announced the plea today.
Court documents reveal that Cox engaged in fraudulent schemes targeting companies he was connected with. He created unauthorized bank accounts and redirected funds from clients and companies into these accounts using false pretenses. From 2013 to 2018, through two separate fraud schemes, Cox illicitly acquired client payments as well as company loans and investments, which he then misappropriated.
Cox also fraudulently secured a $1.5 million construction loan intended for developing Granite Park, a recreational area in Fresno. The nonprofit organization run by Cox and his business partner could not qualify for the loan without a financially viable guarantor. To overcome this hurdle, Cox falsely claimed that one of his affiliated companies would guarantee the loan, submitting a fabricated board resolution asserting unanimous agreement among company owners to back the Granite Park loan—a meeting that never occurred.
The case results from an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation alongside the IRS Criminal Investigation unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Henry Z. Carbajal III and Jeffrey A. Spivak are handling prosecution duties.
Cox's sentencing is scheduled for June 2, 2025. He faces up to 30 years in prison along with a potential $1 million fine; however, the court will determine the actual sentence based on statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines that consider various elements.