Illinois Man Pleads Guilty for Role in International Fraudulent Market Survey Conspiracy

Illinois Man Pleads Guilty for Role in International Fraudulent Market Survey Conspiracy

CONCORD - An Illinois man pleaded guilty today for participating in an international scheme to sell fabricated market survey data, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.

Frank Hayden, 58, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. U.S. District Judge Landya B. McCafferty scheduled sentencing for May 12, 2026.

According to the public record, Op4G and Slice were market research companies based in New Hampshire and Illinois, respectively. Clients would hire the companies to conduct market research surveys. As part of their business model, Op4G and Slice maintained "panels" consisting of individuals potentially eligible to take surveys. Hayden initially worked for Op4G before moving over to Slice.

In 2014, Hayden and several conspirators decided to increase company revenues by generating fabricated survey data. To execute the scheme, the conspirators recruited "ants," who pretended to be legitimate survey takers but instead were paid a nominal fee for completing surveys that produced false market research data. Some of the conspirators even served as "ants" and fraudulently took large quantities of surveys themselves, receiving significant payments.

To evade detection, the conspirators exchanged instructions with each other and the "ants." These instructions included directions on how to answer survey screener questions, provided parameters on how long "ants" should remain on surveys, and encouraged the use of virtual private network (VPN) services to conceal real IP addresses.

The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

The FBI led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case.