Seattle – Amber Towndrow, a 36-year-old woman who masterminded a $1.4 million bank fraud scheme that spanned across multiple states, was today sentenced to six years in prison by U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead. The sentence comes after Towndrow and her coconspirator, Darby Canfield, were indicted in April 2024.
In a hearing before the court, Judge Whitehead emphasized that Towndrow’s actions went beyond mere desperation. ‘This was not a simple crime of desperation,’ he said. ‘It was a sophisticated nationwide fraud.’ He added that despite one arrest, Towndrow continued her criminal endeavors, demonstrating a disregard for law and order.
Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller described the scheme as a complex operation involving stolen information and false identification documents. ‘This defendant was a primary actor,’ Miller said. ‘She successfully impersonated her victims, memorizing all the details of their lives.’ The sentence is aimed at setting Towndrow on a new path as a law-abiding citizen.
According to court records, Towndrow and Canfield acquired personal identifying information for at least 19 victims nationwide. They used this data to open business bank accounts at various financial institutions where the real owners had personal savings accounts. The conspirators then transferred money from the personal account to the new business account, using it to purchase high-value goods and cash money orders with fake IDs.
This scheme touched several states, including Washington, Colorado, Pennsylvania, California, New Jersey, Indiana, and Washington D.C. Towndrow’s actions caused significant hardship for her victims, one of whom had $40,000 stolen just weeks before their wedding, adding immense stress to the event.
In a plea agreement, Towndrow admitted to opening at least 50 business bank accounts and attempting to obtain $1.4 million, successfully obtaining $664,000. Assistant United States Attorney Sean Waite highlighted the lifelong impact identity theft can have on victims, burdening them with debt collections and decreased credit scores.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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