Carolyn Jean Cassar, Wire Fraud, Minnesota 2013

Defendant Name, Crime, State Year

A 61-year-old Rochester woman has been charged with defrauding an elderly couple out of more than $840,000. The indictment against Carolyn Jean Cassar alleges that she engaged in a scheme to obtain money from the couple through false and fraudulent pretenses.

The indictment alleges that from May 2006 through September 2012, Cassar executed a scheme to obtain money from the elderly couple by falsely representing that she needed the funds to travel to Washington, D.C., to attend to the affairs of her recently deceased daughter. She also falsely represented that she needed money to travel to Italy to, among other things, prosecute a former business agent who had defrauded her.

Cassar allegedly told the couple that she expected to receive money she inherited from her father, which the business agent had stolen, and she would then repay them the funds they loaned to her. To support her false representations, Cassar allegedly provided the victims with airline itineraries for her flights to Italy. However, the indictment alleges that she used the victims' money for personal expenses, including vacations in Europe with her son and others, and to pay an architect to draw plans for a villa-style house.

The indictment charges Cassar with one count of wire fraud, which carries a potential maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine the sentence if Cassar is convicted. The case was brought as a result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rochester Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly A. Svendsen is prosecuting the case. An indictment is a determination by a grand jury that there is probable cause to believe that offenses have been committed by a defendant. A defendant is presumed innocent until he or she pleads guilty or is proven guilty at trial.

The indictment against Cassar serves as a reminder of the importance of being cautious when lending money to friends or family members, especially in cases where they claim to be in financial distress. It also highlights the need for individuals to thoroughly verify the credibility of those they trust before making significant financial commitments.

The case is a stark reminder that financial scams can have devastating consequences for victims and their families. It is essential for individuals to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mn/pr/rochester-woman-indicted-defrauding-elderly-couple-out-840000