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United States of America v. Davin Ward Elder
Date: 02-18-2026
Case Number: 26-cr-00038
Judge: Fred Biery
Court: United States District Court for the Western District of Texas (Bexar County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States District Attorney's Office in San Antonio
Defendant's Attorney: John Gilmore
Description:
San Antonio, Texas, criminal defense lawyer represents the Defendant charged with wire fraud.
From January 2023 to March 2025, Devin Ward Elder, 47, fraudulently raised more than $69.5 million from approximately 345 investor victims that participated in 17 real estate investments. Elder was the founder and CEO of the San Antonio-based investment firm, DJE Texas Management Group, LLC, which was formed in March 2015 and employed dozens of people. DJE invested in multifamily apartments, industrial flexible workspace units, land projects, commercial building projects, and offered investment in a so-called “Income Fund.” Fourteen of DJE’s 17 offered investments acquired real property, and each property was owned by a separate LLC created for the limited purpose of purchasing and owning the investment property.
Elder induced his victims to invest with him and made a series of material misrepresentations promising high returns with low risk. Among many other false representations, Elder promised that he would “co-invest” his own money. Additionally, in classic Ponzi fashion, Elder made interest payments to investors of one project using investor funds from other projects without disclosing the nature or source of those interest payments. Over the 26-month life of the scheme, investors received approximately $8.8 million in payments that Elder purported to be “interest” and “principal” payments. In reality, many of the payments consisted of the investments of investors in other funds rather than actual investment returns.
In March 2025, Elder halted interest payments to the victim-investors. He notified the investors that his businesses were having financial difficulties, the projects would not be completed, and they should expect to lose a large portion of their investments.
Elder was charged with one count of wire fraud on Jan. 28 and summoned to appear in federal court on Feb. 17, at which time he pleaded guilty. Elder is scheduled to be sentenced the week of June 2 and faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys William R. Harris, Steven Seward and Ray Gattinella are prosecuting the case.
From January 2023 to March 2025, Devin Ward Elder, 47, fraudulently raised more than $69.5 million from approximately 345 investor victims that participated in 17 real estate investments. Elder was the founder and CEO of the San Antonio-based investment firm, DJE Texas Management Group, LLC, which was formed in March 2015 and employed dozens of people. DJE invested in multifamily apartments, industrial flexible workspace units, land projects, commercial building projects, and offered investment in a so-called “Income Fund.” Fourteen of DJE’s 17 offered investments acquired real property, and each property was owned by a separate LLC created for the limited purpose of purchasing and owning the investment property.
Elder induced his victims to invest with him and made a series of material misrepresentations promising high returns with low risk. Among many other false representations, Elder promised that he would “co-invest” his own money. Additionally, in classic Ponzi fashion, Elder made interest payments to investors of one project using investor funds from other projects without disclosing the nature or source of those interest payments. Over the 26-month life of the scheme, investors received approximately $8.8 million in payments that Elder purported to be “interest” and “principal” payments. In reality, many of the payments consisted of the investments of investors in other funds rather than actual investment returns.
In March 2025, Elder halted interest payments to the victim-investors. He notified the investors that his businesses were having financial difficulties, the projects would not be completed, and they should expect to lose a large portion of their investments.
Elder was charged with one count of wire fraud on Jan. 28 and summoned to appear in federal court on Feb. 17, at which time he pleaded guilty. Elder is scheduled to be sentenced the week of June 2 and faces up to 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys William R. Harris, Steven Seward and Ray Gattinella are prosecuting the case.
Outcome:
The Defendant elected to plead guilty.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments:
About This Case
What was the outcome of United States of America v. Davin Ward Elder?
The outcome was: The Defendant elected to plead guilty.
Which court heard United States of America v. Davin Ward Elder?
This case was heard in United States District Court for the Western District of Texas (Bexar County), TX. The presiding judge was Fred Biery.
Who were the attorneys in United States of America v. Davin Ward Elder?
Plaintiff's attorney: United States District Attorney's Office in San Antonio. Defendant's attorney: John Gilmore.
When was United States of America v. Davin Ward Elder decided?
This case was decided on February 18, 2026.