Body Parts Trafficker Pleads Guilty in Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK— In a shocking case of human trafficking, a former employee of a mortuary services provider has pleaded guilty to transporting stolen body parts across state lines and conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Candace Chapman Scott, 37, of Little Rock, entered this guilty plea today before United States District Judge Brian S. Miller.

Transporting stolen property across state lines is punishable by not more than 10 years’ imprisonment, not less than three years’ supervised release, and a fine of not more than $250,000. The maximum penalty faced by Scott for mail fraud is not more than 20 years’ imprisonment, not less than three years’ supervised release, and a fine of not more than $250,000.

The investigation revealed that Scott, while an employee at a mortuary services provider between October 2021 through approximately July 15, 2022, stole human body parts and fetal remains. Scott would then sell the stolen human body parts and fetal remains, arranging for them to be transported across a state line to the purchaser.

Scott was indicted on April 5, 2023, and charged with six counts of wire fraud, four counts of mail fraud, and two counts of interstate transportation of stolen property. In exchange for her guilty plea, the remaining charges were dismissed.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Now that Scott has pleaded guilty, Judge Miller will sentence her at a later date. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is urging anyone with information relating to this case or who believes they may have been impacted by it to contact them by email at USAARE-SubmitInfo@usdoj.gov.

Additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas is available online at https://www.justice.gov/edar.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office can also be followed on Twitter for updates on this and other cases.