Crime News Update: In a shocking turn of events, Owings Mills couple James William Wilson Jr., 78, and Maureen Ann Wilson, 77, have been sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in an elaborate $20 million insurance fraud scheme.
The pair, both residents of Owings Mills, Maryland, were found guilty of orchestrating a complex conspiracy that involved securing over 40 life-insurance policies. The scheme was so intricate that it defrauded life-insurance companies out of death benefits totaling more than $20 million. James Wilson, a former Maryland life insurance broker, further compounded the fraud by duping individual investors into providing funds for fraudulent premiums.
U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasanow handed down sentences of 12 years to James Wilson for his roles in the scheme, including 13 counts of fraud, three counts of money laundering, two counts of filing false tax returns, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Maureen Wilson received a four-year sentence for her involvement, which included charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, multiple counts of mail fraud and wire fraud, and money laundering.
Both defendants were ordered to pay $18,705,520.30 in restitution, and the court entered a forfeiture order that included over $14.8 million in seized funds. The IRS-CI investigated the case with assistance from the Maryland Insurance Administration and the Maryland Office of The Attorney General.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, Kelly O. Hayes, expressed gratitude to all involved in the investigation and prosecution of this case, including Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew P. Phelps and Philip Motsay, as well as Trial Attorneys Shawn Noud and Richard Kelley. Hayes also thanked Trial Attorney Stephanie Williamson from the Department of Justice’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section for her assistance with the forfeiture proceedings.
For more information on reporting insurance fraud in Maryland, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.
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Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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