Seven scammers have been locked up for their roles in a massive online fraud scheme, according to officials from the Justice Department. The group, which operated out of Mississippi, was involved in romance scams, counterfeit checks, and work-from-home scams.
The masterminds behind this criminal enterprise were Funso Hassan, 27, of Ibadan, Nigeria, and Anthony Shane Jeffers, 44, of Maryville, Tennessee. Each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit identity theft and theft of government property, as well as using mail and an interstate facility for racketeering activities. They received sentences of 120 months in prison.
Ann Louise Franzen, 70, Gary Melvin Barnard, 64, Michele Gayle Fee, 55, Tanya Lynn Thomas, 52, and Shawn Ann White, 44, all previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges, each receiving sentences of 60 months. The court will determine restitution for all defendants at a later date.
The scammers operated by sending victims counterfeit checks with instructions to transmit proceeds to various U.S. locations, which were then laundered and sent to Nigeria. The fraudulent checks would bounce after transmission, leaving victims liable for the full amount plus bank fees. Some of the defendants started as romance scam victims before joining the conspiracy.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Gulfport, Mississippi, Office led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Annette Williams, Trial Attorney Conor Mulroe, and Senior Counsel Peter Roman prosecuted the case.
Related Federal Cases
- Mississippi Entrepreneur Indicted for $1.2M Bank Fraud Scheme · Mississippi
- Seven Plead Guilty in $Millions Online Fraud Ring · Mississippi
- ‘White Boi’ Nabbed in $10M Treasury Check Scam · Mississippi
- Gary R. Tomey II Gets 90 Months for Charity Scam · Mississippi
- Sandra, Calvin, Bryan Bailey Convicted in $Million Medicare Fraud · Mississippi
Key Facts
- State: Mississippi
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Cybercrime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
