Siblings Charged in $80 Million Franchise Fraud Scheme

Federal prosecutors accused a former restaurant executive and her brother of bribery and money laundering.

Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Financial Crime

Bold flat-color editorial illustration depicting a heavy steel vault door slightly ajar, symbolizing a major financial crime. — Federal prosecutors charged Janet Risi Field and Steven Louis Risi with defrauding franchise owners of $80 million in a multi-state bribery scheme. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Janet Risi Field and Steven Louis Risi have been charged by federal prosecutors for their alleged roles in a sophisticated bribery and money laundering scheme. The pair is accused of defrauding thousands of sub sandwich franchise owners across the United States of more than $80 million.

Why it matters

The case highlights significant vulnerabilities in the cooperative business model when executive leadership allegedly abuses financial oversight. The multi-million dollar scope of the alleged fraud represents a massive financial impact on thousands of independent small business owners nationwide.

Federal prosecutors filed criminal charges against Janet Risi Field and Steven Louis Risi on October 1, 2026. The investigation centers on allegations of bribery and money laundering exceeding $80 million.

The players

Janet Risi Field

She is the former chief executive of a restaurant chain cooperative accused of orchestrating a large-scale financial fraud.

Steven Louis Risi

He is the brother of Janet Risi Field and a co-defendant charged in the federal bribery and money laundering case.

The details

Prosecutors allege that Janet Risi Field, the former chief executive of a restaurant chain cooperative, collaborated with her brother, Steven Louis Risi, to execute the scheme. The defendants reportedly utilized their positions to misappropriate funds from franchise owners under the guise of legitimate business operations.

October 1, 2026: Federal charges were filed against the two defendants.

Legal Context

This case follows a pattern of high-stakes litigation involving restaurant franchise ownership structures, similar to the 2021 Subway franchise legal disputes. It underscores the ongoing challenges in maintaining transparency and fiscal integrity within large-scale cooperative business entities.

While the charges primarily impact the accused, thousands of franchise owners must now navigate the loss of capital and potential operational instability. Local business communities should be aware of heightened scrutiny regarding the management of cooperative restaurant funds.

The takeaway

Small business owners should conduct regular audits of any cooperative or parent organization that manages their collective funds. Maintaining rigorous oversight of leadership and fiscal transparency is essential to protecting individual franchise investments from potential exploitation.