No. 1:25-cr-00523-RP · U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas, Austin Division · Hon. Robert Pitman presiding
The indictment
On November 18, 2025, a federal grand jury returned a
four-count indictment against Mr. Robison. The indictment alleges that,
beginning in February 2022 and continuing through approximately June
2025, Mr. Robison "devised and intended to devise a scheme and artifice
to defraud and to obtain money and property by means of false and
fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises."
Specifically, the indictment alleges that Mr. Robison formed a
Delaware limited partnership called Four Gates Property, LP — of which
he was Senior Managing Director and 75% owner — ostensibly to acquire
land in Bastrop County, Texas, for development as part of a campus for
the University of Austin. According to the indictment, an investment
trust identified as FG Trust wired $1,000,000 to Four Gates on or about
February 28, 2022, based on Mr. Robison's representation that the funds
would be held in escrow until Four Gates raised $2,000,000 in
subscriptions and would not be used for non-partnership purposes. The
indictment alleges that in fact the funds "were applied to other
investment purposes and for Robison's own personal use and benefit," and
that "accurate and material cash flow and accounting information was
not provided to investors."
The charges
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Count 1
Wire Fraud — 18
U.S.C. § 1343, alleging the February 28, 2022 wire transfer of
$1,000,000 from First Republic Bank to a Bank of America account
controlled by Four Gates Property, LP.
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Count 2
Engaging in a Monetary Transaction in Criminally Derived Property — 18 U.S.C. § 1957, alleging a wire transfer of $75,000 from Bank of America to Prosperity Bank on or about May 23, 2022.
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Count 3
Engaging in a Monetary Transaction in Criminally Derived Property — 18 U.S.C. § 1957, alleging an intrabank transfer of $25,000 within Bank of America on or about July 5, 2022.
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Count 4
Engaging in a Monetary Transaction in Criminally Derived Property — 18 U.S.C. § 1957, alleging an intrabank transfer of $15,000 within Bank of America on or about July 22, 2022.
The indictment also contains a Notice of Government's Demand
for Forfeiture, reflecting the government's intent to seek forfeiture of
property derived from or involved in the alleged offenses, including
through substitute assets.
Case status
Mr. Robison was arrested on November 21, 2025. At his initial
appearance that day, U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Lane released him on a
$50,000 unsecured appearance bond subject to conditions described below.
On December 2, 2025, Mr. Robison waived personal appearance at
arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty on all counts. Trial is
currently scheduled for July 20, 2026, before Judge Robert Pitman,
though federal criminal trial dates are frequently continued as cases
develop. Several pretrial motions are pending before the court as of 06/24/2026, with hearings anticipated at the July 10, 2026 docket call.
Selected conditions of pretrial release
Imposed
by the court pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3142(c)(1)(B). Excerpted from the
Order Setting Conditions of Release filed November 21, 2025.
- Travel restricted to Travis, Williamson, and Hays Counties, Texas
- Surrender of passport; prohibition on obtaining new international travel documents
- No contact, direct or indirect, with any person who is or may be a victim or witness in the investigation or prosecution
- No opening of any new lines of credit
- Periodic drug testing
- Notification of U.S. Pretrial Services of any probate distributions within 72 hours
- Regular reporting to U.S. Pretrial Services
Presumption of innocence. An indictment is a
formal accusation by a grand jury. It is not a finding of guilt. Mr.
Robison has pleaded not guilty to all counts and, under the Constitution
of the United States, is presumed innocent unless and until the
government proves each charge beyond a reasonable doubt at trial, or he
pleads guilty.
