Belton Resident Austin Sentenced to 65 Months for National Walmart Fraud Scheme

SCOTTSDALE, MO. – Crystal Austin, a 40-year-old from Belton, Missouri, was today sentenced to 65 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley for her role in a massive wire fraud conspiracy targeting Walmart Inc.

Austin was among the group that conspired with Shelly Scott, Jason Edge, and others to steal over $860,000 from Walmart between November 2016 and February 2018. They did so by using stolen personal checks, identity theft, and bypassing electronic check authorization measures across 18 states.

The scheme involved more than 14 different stolen checking accounts, with Austin and her co-conspirators presenting stolen checks and false IDs at the point of payment. When the checks were initially declined, they would pose as representatives from the check authorization company to have transactions approved by store clerks.

Austin was arrested along with Heather Bishop and Jennifer Austin in December 2019. Scott and Edge were nabbed by Monona Police on February 25, 2018, after Walmart employees became wary of their activities. Both pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 48 months in federal prison last year.

During sentencing, Judge Conley highlighted the scheme’s impact on both Walmart and the individuals whose identities were exploited. He also noted Austin’s extensive criminal history and her probation violations during the conspiracy. Austin is now facing mandatory treatment programs for mental health and substance abuse while incarcerated.

The investigation was a joint effort by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Monona and Sun Prairie Police Departments, and various national police forces, with Walmart’s fraud team providing crucial support. Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura A. Przybylinski Finn handled the prosecution.