Wire Fraud Scheme Exposed in Missouri
A brazen scheme to defraud the city of Merriam Woods, Mo., has come crashing down. Former City Clerk Breanna N. Gamble, 28, of Ozark, Mo., has pleaded guilty to a $68,000 wire fraud scheme.
According to court documents, Gamble, also known as Breanna Delcour, used her position as city clerk to embezzle city funds for her personal benefit. The scheme ran from October 1, 2018, to August 11, 2019.
Gamble’s scheme involved using city credit cards and bank accounts to make personal purchases on numerous occasions, including $68,038 in unauthorized transactions. The list of purchases reads like a discount shopper’s dream: Amazon, Victoria’s Secret, Walmart, PFI, Buckle, American Eagle, H&M, Ticketmaster, Reliable Chevrolet, Springfield Power Sports, Lululemon, and Ulta.
The scheme got even more brazen when Gamble forged a signature on a $5,500 city check to purchase a motorcycle for her personal use. To cover her tracks, she recorded false financial entries and invoices, made misrepresentations to the city’s mayor and board of aldermen, and failed to cooperate with a company hired to conduct a financial audit.
Gamble faces up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The sentencing hearing will be scheduled after a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. It was investigated by the FBI.
Under federal statutes, Gamble must forfeit to the government a money judgment of $68,038, the exact amount she embezzled from the city. This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in government.
As the investigation unfolds, one can’t help but wonder how many other schemes like this one are lurking in the shadows. The people of Merriam Woods deserve to know the truth, and we will continue to follow this story as it develops.
The city of Merriam Woods, Missouri, is no stranger to controversy, but this latest development is a stark reminder that no one is above the law. We will continue to hold those in power accountable for their actions.
Related Federal Cases
- Albert Davis, Wire Fraud, Kansas City, MO, 2023 · Texas
- Darrin Landes, Wire Fraud, Ballwin MO, 2023 · North Carolina
- Corey Buddle, Mail and Wire Fraud, New York 2024 · New York
- Jason J Parmeley, Wire Fraud, IL 2024 · Connecticut
- Demea Loyd, Wire Fraud, MO 2024 · Connecticut
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Public Corruption|White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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