Carol J. Dotson, 70, Pleads Guilty to $2M Wire Fraud

Carol J. Dotson, 70, of St. Louis, admitted in federal court today to orchestrating a 14-year fraud scheme that bled more than $2 million from a commercial real estate property management company in Olivette, Missouri. She pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud before U.S. District Judge E. Richard Webber, closing a long chapter of financial deception.

From July 2003 to February 2017, Dotson, serving as office administrator, exploited her position to siphon funds through a web of fraudulent checks and unauthorized withdrawals. Court documents detail how she wrote checks payable to herself, bypassing oversight while funneling company money into her personal accounts. The theft went undetected for years, a testament to the brazen nature of her operation.

The stolen money funded a lifestyle far beyond her official salary—Dotson spent lavishly on elder care for her mother, mortgage payments, home renovations, house cleaning services, legal fees, and shopping sprees at local stores. None of the expenditures were authorized, and none benefited the company she was entrusted to manage.

Now facing the consequences, Dotson could be sentenced to up to 20 years in federal prison and fined $250,000. She will also be ordered to pay full restitution to the victim company. While the statutory penalties are severe, the actual sentence will be determined using U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which weigh factors like loss amount and criminal history.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with critical support from the Olivette Police Department. Their joint effort unearthed financial records, bank transactions, and internal documents that laid bare the depth of the fraud. Investigators described the breach of trust as both methodical and prolonged.

Assistant United States Attorney Dianna Collins is prosecuting the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Sentencing is scheduled for a later date, where Dotson will learn the final cost of her betrayal. For the victim company, the damage extends beyond dollars—eroded trust, compromised operations, and a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities within.