Mission Duo Indicted in $250K Wire Fraud Scheme

Mark Edward O’Leary, 35, and Sharli Colombe, 35, both of Mission, South Dakota, are staring down a federal wire fraud storm after being indicted on charges of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Wire Fraud. The pair allegedly pulled off a years-long scam passing over 500 fraudulent checks drawn from a bank account they had no right to touch.

The indictment, handed down February 14, 2018, by a federal grand jury, accuses O’Leary and Colombe of depositing and cashing at least 544 checks tied to an account belonging to someone else. According to prosecutors, the scheme ran from February 4, 2011, to June 6, 2017, with the duo using the illicit funds to buy personal goods and cover unauthorized deposits.

Neither O’Leary nor Colombe admitted guilt. Both appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on February 15, 2018, and entered not guilty pleas. They were released on bond pending trial, though no trial date has been scheduled.

If convicted, each defendant faces up to 20 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. The court may also impose full restitution to the victim whose account was exploited.

The FBI led the investigation into the fraud ring, unraveling a paper trail of forged checks and financial deception that spanned more than six years. Federal prosecutors say the case highlights how long-running financial frauds can go undetected in tight-knit communities.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is handling the prosecution. The charges remain allegations; O’Leary and Colombe are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

RELATED: IMRAN KHAN Pleads Guilty to Illegal Export Scheme

RELATED: Terry Ford and Dawn Peters Face Indictment for Synthetic Drug Smuggling