Frank Gene Powell, Wire Fraud Conspiracy, Utah 2023
Utah Man and 7 Others Charged in Scheme to Defraud 80-Year-Old Widow
A federal grand jury returned a 10-count indictment Thursday afternoon charging eight individuals in connection with an alleged fraud scheme to obtain money and assets from an 80-year-old widow who lives in Washington, Utah.
The indictment alleges the defendants, who have family relationships, conspired to obtain money and assets from the victim in exchange for false promises to perform work on her property. To further advance the scheme, one of the defendants engaged in romance fraud by enticing the victim to enter into a romantic relationship.
According to the indictment, the victim paid the defendants at least $273,849.20, both indirectly and directly, for this work. The defendants promised to perform routine repairs and odd jobs on her property, including painting the exterior of the house, resurfacing the driveway, doing yard work, hammering protruding nails on the roof, fixing a door handle on a car, removing grease spots on the driveway, and installing carpet on an outdoor deck.
The indictment includes one count of wire fraud conspiracy, five counts of money laundering conspiracy – spending, two counts of destruction or concealment of records and tangible objects in a federal investigation, one count of concealment of a document or object, and one count of tampering with a witness or victim.
The defendants charged in the indictment are Frank Gene Powell, age 51, of Hurricane; Bubby Mern Shepherd, age 58, of Lodi, California; Gloria Jean Powell, age 74, of St. George; Faye Ann Renteria, age 42, of Hurricane; Terrence Quincy Powell, age 23, of St. George; Rocky James Powell Mott, age 40, of Hurricane; Martell Taz Powell, age 25, of Cedar City; and Angela Ruth McDuffie, age 53, of Lehi.
Seven of the eight defendants are in custody. Shepherd will have an initial appearance on the indictment in California on Wednesday. The other seven defendants will have an initial appearance on the indictment at 9 a.m. Thursday in St. George, Utah, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul Kohler.
The indictment alleges that starting around March 2019 through October 2019, several of the defendants began soliciting payments from L.N. by offering to perform routine repairs and odd jobs on her property.
Frank Powell engaged in the romance fraud scam with the victim and told L.N. that he intended to marry her while maintaining a domestic partnership with Renteria. According to the indictment, he is legally married to another woman not involved in the conspiracy.
The money laundering counts allege four defendants, Frank Powell, Gloria Powell, Renteria, and Taz Powell, used money derived from their alleged unlawful activity to buy cars, a Polaris Razor, and a trailer.
Frank Powell and Renteria are charged with two counts of destruction of records or tangible objects in a federal investigation – specifically cell phones – in an effort to impede the investigation of the case. They are also charged with tampering with a victim in an effort to avoid prosecution.
“We prioritize investigations and prosecutions where seniors are targeted for victimization,” U.S. Attorney John W. Huber said today. “We revere our elders, we do not defraud them.”
The indictment alleges that the defendants contacted L.N. through written correspondence and phone calls in which they made misleading statements and attempted to persuade L.N. to withhold information from law enforcement and help them avoid prosecution.
Frank Powell and Faye Renteria were arrested on a federal complaint in November charging them with tampering with a victim.
Individuals charged in the indictment are:
- Frank Gene Powell, age 51, of Hurricane
- Bubby Mern Shepherd, age 58, of Lodi, California
- Gloria Jean Powell, age 74, of St. George
- Faye Ann Renteria, age 42, of Hurricane
- Terrence Quincy Powell, age 23, of St. George
- Rocky James Powell Mott, age 40, of Hurricane
- Martell Taz Powell, age 25, of Cedar City
- Angela Ruth McDuffie, age 53, of Lehi
Cities and states involved: Hurricane, Utah, Lodi, California, St. George, Utah, Cedar City, Utah, Lehi, Utah
Date of indictment: 2023
Dollar amount: $273,849.20
Status: 7 defendants in custody, 1 defendant will have an initial appearance on Wednesday.
Key Facts
- State: Utah
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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