Las Vegas, Nevada – A Nevada woman pleaded guilty today for engaging in a prize notice fraud scheme that defrauded thousands of consumers, many of whom were elderly, across the United States and abroad.
Barbara Trickle, 80, of Las Vegas, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. According to the indictment, Trickle and her co-conspirators prepared and mailed millions of fraudulent prize notices that led their victims to believe that they had been individually selected to receive a large cash prize and would receive their prize if they paid a $20 to $50 fee.
In reality, no victim ever received a large cash prize from Trickle or her co-conspirators. Instead, victims received a “report” describing sweepstakes opportunities or a trinket of minimal value. After victims responded to one fraudulent prize notice mailing, Trickle and her co-conspirators inundated them with additional fraudulent mailings.
Trickle and her co-conspirators used the scheme to steal more than $15 million from victims. The fraud scheme operated from 2012 to February 2018, when the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) executed multiple search warrants and the Justice Department obtained a court order shutting down the fraudulent mail operation.
The USPIS conducted the investigation. Trial Attorneys Carolyn Rice and Charles Dunn of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch prosecuted the case, with substantial assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Nevada.
The National Elder Fraud Hotline is available to help individuals who have been victims of financial fraud. You can contact them at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311) or visit their website for more information.
Related Federal Cases
- Elder Fraud Initiative, Nevada 2023 · New Hampshire
- Howard Hsu, Tax Fraud Conspiracy, Nevada 2024 · California
- Sean Christopher Sladek, Investment Fraud Scheme, Nevada 2024 · California
- Ofelia Ronquillo, Tax Return Fraud, Nevada 2024 · Wisconsin
- Walter Fabian Guzman, Tax Return Fraud Conspiracy, Nevada 2010 · Wisconsin
Key Facts
- State: Nevada
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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