HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – A 70-year-old Huntington woman has been sentenced to federal prison for knowingly facilitating a complex Nigerian fraud scheme that preyed on vulnerable individuals, many of them elderly. Patricia Dudding received three months behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release, after admitting her role as a crucial “money mule” in the operation.
Dudding was also ordered to pay a staggering $1,788,589.24 in restitution to the victims of the scam. Court documents reveal that between May 2018 and July 2019, Dudding opened multiple bank accounts in her name, receiving and wiring fraudulent funds at the direction of an online contact known only as “Lucas Bennito Antonio” or simply “Lucas.” These deposits originated from individuals both within the United States and abroad, and were then funneled to accounts in Nigeria.
The scheme wasn’t a passive one for Dudding. She actively concealed the illicit nature of the transactions, repeatedly lying to bank employees when questioned about the unusual activity. Several banks flagged her accounts for suspected fraud and ultimately closed them, but Dudding circumvented these measures by opening new accounts and providing false information to financial institutions to justify the wire transfers. One instance involved a $39,000 wire transfer to an individual in Montana, where Dudding deliberately misled a bank employee to ensure the transfer went through.
Beyond simply moving the money, Dudding directly benefited from the fraud. She admitted to using the stolen funds to cover personal expenses, including utilities, satellite television, groceries, and everyday necessities like gas and restaurant meals. She also made numerous cash withdrawals, effectively siphoning money directly from the victims of the scam to fund her lifestyle. This wasn’t a case of naivete; Dudding acknowledged she knew “Lucas’s” activities were illegitimate.
U.S. Attorney Will Thompson announced the sentencing, praising the collaborative investigative efforts of the U.S. Secret Service, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), and the South Charleston Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kathleen Robeson, and imposed by United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers.
Federal authorities are urging anyone who suspects elder fraud to report it immediately. Resources are available through the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov or 877-FTC-HELP, and the Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime at ovc.gov. This case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of these schemes, and the lengths to which criminals will go to exploit vulnerable individuals. Court documents related to Case No. 3:22-cr-1 are available on PACER.
Related Federal Cases
- Daryl Glenn Johnson, Public Funds Fraud Scheme, Beaumont TX, 2023 · Kansas
- Marcus Brian Curry, $2.4M Mail Fraud Scheme, Allen TX, 2023 · Texas
- Dorothy Matsuba Led $30M Mortgage Relief Fraud Scheme, Los Angeles … · California
- Patricia Diane Smith Sledge, Mail Fraud, California 2024 · Utah
- David Aldrich, Securities Fraud Scheme, California 2024 · Utah
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
