PITTSBURGH FINANCIAL ADVISOR PLEADS GUILTY TO IMPERSONATING FEDERAL LABOR DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE TO SOLICIT RETIREMENT PLAN BUSINESS

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA — A Pittsburgh financial advisor and loan officer pleaded guilty on November 2, 2026, to falsely impersonating a federal employee as part of a scheme involving local businesses and their retirement plans. Lazaven Mitchell, 38, admitted to representing himself as an employee of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) while attempting to persuade businesses to replace their existing retirement plan advisors with his own services.

Mitchell entered his guilty plea before Senior U.S. District Judge David Stewart Cercone in the Western District of Pennsylvania. According to information presented in federal court, Mitchell was a licensed financial advisor and loan officer who contacted multiple Pittsburgh-area businesses between April and June 2024, falsely claiming to represent the federal agency responsible for overseeing employee benefit plans.

During these encounters, Mitchell identified himself as an EBSA representative and requested permission to examine company retirement plans for potential regulatory compliance issues. His claimed federal authority gave the appearance that the reviews were part of legitimate government oversight, rather than an effort to obtain private financial advisory business.

After conducting a review, Mitchell would identify an alleged compliance problem and recommend that the business terminate its existing retirement plan advisor. He then proposed transferring responsibility for the plan to himself as its administrator. To facilitate those changes, Mitchell provided business owners with draft termination letters that could be signed and used to dismiss their current advisors.

Federal prosecutors described additional steps Mitchell took to reinforce his false government affiliation. He sent correspondence displaying the official Department of Labor seal and the EBSA’s Washington, D.C., mailing address, creating the appearance that his communications originated from a federal agency. These materials were used in connection with his efforts to influence business owners’ decisions concerning their retirement plans.

Text messages presented in court further documented Mitchell’s impersonation. In communications with one business owner, he referenced having a final determination from the Department of Labor and stated that he intended to visit the business to retrieve documents associated with a supposed federal inquiry. The messages reinforced the impression that the business was dealing with an authorized government representative conducting an official review.

In a separate exchange with another business owner, Mitchell transmitted a fabricated business card bearing the EBSA name and crest. The card identified him as an Employee Benefit Advisor and listed an office suite within the William S. Moorhead Federal Building in Pittsburgh. The use of federal agency insignia, an official-sounding title, and a government building address formed part of the false representation of his employment status.

The Employee Benefits Security Administration is a division of the Department of Labor responsible for administering and enforcing federal laws governing employee retirement and health benefit plans. Its regulatory authority includes oversight of benefit plan administration and compliance. Mitchell’s conduct involved misrepresenting his connection to that agency to obtain access to retirement plan information and promote his private financial services.

Judge Cercone scheduled Mitchell’s sentencing for March 25, 2027. The federal offense carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a fine of up to the greater of $250,000 or twice the defendant’s gross financial gain, or both. The sentence ultimately imposed will be determined by the court after considering the applicable federal sentencing guidelines, the circumstances of the offense, and Mitchell’s criminal history, if any.

U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti for the Western District of Pennsylvania announced the guilty plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brendan J. McKenna is prosecuting the case following an investigation conducted by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General.

The prosecution highlights the risks businesses face when individuals falsely claim federal authority to influence financial decisions. Government seals, agency addresses, and official-looking credentials can be used to create a misleading appearance of legitimacy, particularly when business owners are confronted with claims of regulatory violations. Independent verification through established government contact channels remains an important safeguard against impersonation schemes involving retirement plans and other financial services.

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