Franklin, Tennessee – March 18, 2025 In a significant development in a high-profile fraud case, Haskell “Trey” Knight, 61, and Emily Knight, also known as Emily Ricciardelli, 41, a married couple from Franklin, Tennessee, have pleaded guilty to federal felony fraud charges. The pleas were entered before U.S. District Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick in the Middle District of Louisiana on March 13, 2025, bringing an end to a saga that involved deceit, misuse of investment funds, and a bankruptcy filing designed to shield their ill-gotten gains. The charges stem from Trey Knight’s business venture, Udoxa, which was marketed as a promising nutritional supplement company but ultimately served as a vehicle for financial misconduct.
Acting United States Attorney April M. Leon announced the guilty pleas, emphasizing the severity of the couple’s actions. “This case is a stark reminder that exploiting trust for personal gain will not go unpunished,” Leon said in a statement. “The Knights’ scheme defrauded investors and manipulated the bankruptcy process, leaving victims with significant losses. Justice has been served with these guilty pleas.”
The Rise and Fall of Udoxa
Trey Knight launched Udoxa in 2016, presenting it as an innovative enterprise in the booming nutritional supplement industry. With a polished pitch, Knight sought investment capital to fuel the company’s growth, promising lucrative returns to those willing to back his vision. According to court documents, Knight successfully attracted investors, securing substantial loans under the pretense that the funds would be used to develop and market Udoxa’s products.
However, as admissions made during their guilty pleas revealed, the reality was far different from the narrative Knight sold. Instead of investing in product development or business operations, a significant portion of the money was diverted to cover Knight’s personal expenses and to pay off debts from a previous business venture. The couple’s actions painted a picture of a classic Ponzi-like scheme, where new investor money was used to prop up an illusion of success rather than build a legitimate enterprise.
Emily Knight, who played a supporting role in the scheme, was complicit in the misrepresentation and subsequent efforts to conceal their actions. Together, the couple orchestrated a façade that unraveled only after their financial house of cards began to collapse.
Bankruptcy as a Shield
By May 2017, with Udoxa failing to deliver on its promises and creditors growing suspicious, the Knights took a drastic step to protect themselves: they filed for bankruptcy in the Middle District of Florida. In their filing, they listed the Udoxa investors as unsecured creditors, a move that prosecutors later argued was a deliberate attempt to evade accountability.
During the bankruptcy proceedings, the couple admitted to withholding critical information and misrepresenting their financial situation. This deception prevented the bankruptcy trustee from properly distributing assets and ensuring that creditors received what they were owed. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the Knights’ actions allowed them to retain significant funds they were not entitled to keep, while leaving their victims—many of whom had invested life savings or substantial personal funds—with little recourse.
“The bankruptcy filing wasn’t an act of desperation; it was a calculated move to shield their misconduct,” said a source familiar with the case. “They exploited a system designed to help honest debtors, turning it into a tool for their own benefit.”
The Guilty Pleas
The guilty pleas mark the culmination of a thorough investigation by federal authorities, who unraveled the complex web of deceit spun by the Knights. On March 13, 2025, Trey and Emily Knight stood before Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick and acknowledged their roles in the fraud. Trey Knight pleaded guilty to charges related to wire fraud and bankruptcy fraud, admitting that he knowingly misled investors and misused their funds. Emily Knight, meanwhile, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the scheme, acknowledging her complicity in the misrepresentation and the bankruptcy maneuver.
As part of their pleas, the couple agreed to cooperate with authorities and provide full disclosure of their financial dealings. This cooperation could potentially influence their sentencing, though the court has yet to determine the penalties they will face. Federal felony fraud charges carry significant consequences, including the possibility of lengthy prison sentences and substantial fines. Legal experts anticipate that sentencing will occur in the coming months, with the judge taking into account the scale of the fraud, the harm to victims, and the couple’s level of remorse.
Udoxa Victims Left in the Lurch
The human toll of the Knights’ actions is profound. Investors who believed in Udoxa’s potential poured significant sums into the company, only to discover that their money had been squandered. While exact figures remain under seal pending sentencing, estimates suggest that the total losses could run into the millions of dollars. For many victims, the financial hit was compounded by a sense of betrayal.
“I trusted Trey,” said one investor, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “He seemed so confident, so genuine. To find out it was all a lie—it’s devastating. I don’t know if I’ll ever recover what I lost.”
The bankruptcy filing further exacerbated the victims’ plight. By listing them as unsecured creditors, the Knights effectively pushed their claims to the back of the line, ensuring that any remaining assets would be distributed elsewhere. The manipulation of the bankruptcy process left many with little hope of recouping their investments, a fact that has fueled outrage among those affected.
A Broader Context of Fraud in the Udoxa Case
The Udoxa case is just one of several high-profile fraud schemes that have come to light in recent months, highlighting the persistent challenge of financial misconduct in the United States. From cryptocurrency scams to identity theft rings, federal authorities have been cracking down on individuals and organizations that exploit trust for profit. Just days before the Knights’ guilty pleas, a Texas pharmacist was sentenced to over 17 years in prison for a $145 million fraud scheme, while a former New Orleans police sergeant received probation for wire fraud involving double-billing.
The Knights’ case stands out, however, for its blend of entrepreneurial ambition and calculated deception. Unlike some fraudsters who operate in the shadows, Trey Knight positioned himself as a legitimate businessman, leveraging his charisma and a compelling narrative to win over investors. The involvement of his wife, Emily, added a personal dimension to the scheme, raising questions about the dynamics of their partnership and the extent of her culpability.
What Lies Ahead
As the legal process moves forward, attention will shift to the sentencing phase, where the court will weigh the evidence and determine an appropriate punishment. Prosecutors are expected to push for a stern sentence, citing the premeditated nature of the fraud and the significant harm inflicted on victims. The defense, meanwhile, may argue for leniency, pointing to the couple’s cooperation and their lack of prior criminal history.
Beyond the courtroom, the case serves as a cautionary tale for investors and entrepreneurs alike. The nutritional supplement industry, known for its rapid growth and lucrative potential, has long been a target for unscrupulous operators. The Udoxa debacle underscores the importance of due diligence and skepticism, even when a pitch seems too good to be true.
For the residents of Franklin, Tennessee, the guilty pleas have cast a shadow over a community known for its charm and prosperity. The Knights, once regarded as local entrepreneurs with big dreams, now face a future defined by their misdeeds. Friends and neighbors have expressed a mix of shock and disappointment, with some noting that the couple’s outward success masked deeper troubles.
A Call for Accountability
As the dust settles on the Udoxa fraud case, advocates are calling for stronger protections for investors and stricter oversight of bankruptcy proceedings. “This isn’t just about one couple’s greed,” said a victims’ rights advocate. “It’s about a system that allowed them to get away with it for as long as they did. We need to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
For now, Trey and Emily Knight await their fate, their guilty pleas closing one chapter of a story that has captivated and angered those who followed it. The road ahead promises restitution efforts, sentencing hearings, and, for their victims, a long journey toward healing. As Acting U.S. Attorney April M. Leon put it, “The law caught up with them, and now they’ll face the consequences.” In a world where trust is a precious commodity, the Udoxa case stands as a stark reminder of the cost of betrayal.
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