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Omaha Woman Sentenced for Wire Fraud Scheme
A 70-year-old Omaha woman has been sentenced for her role in a wire fraud scheme that defrauded a client out of $500,000.
Patricia Walker-Halstead, the owner of Walker Investigations, was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in prison by Senior United States District Court Judge Joseph F. Bataillon.
According to the investigation, Walker-Halstead created a fictional investigator named ‘Scott’ who worked for the Nebraska State Patrol. She then sent emails to her client claiming that ‘Scott’ was in financial trouble and needed assistance.
The client, unaware of the scam, sent Walker-Halstead $500,000 in payments that she claimed were given to ‘Scott’ to help with his financial needs. However, investigators confirmed that ‘Scott’ was a person made up by Walker-Halstead and never existed.
The money received by Walker-Halstead was used for her personal benefit. Walker-Halstead was also ordered to make restitution in the amount of $500,000 and will serve a 2-year term of supervised release after her prison sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Secret Service and the Nebraska State Patrol.
Walker-Halstead’s sentencing comes after a thorough investigation that uncovered the extent of her scheme. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of verifying information and being cautious of potential scams.
Defendant: Patricia Walker-Halstead
Criminal Charges: Wire Fraud
City and State: Omaha, Nebraska
Exact Date: April 1, 2016
Sentence: 12 months and 1 day in prison, 2 years supervised release, $500,000 restitution
Key Facts
- State: Nebraska
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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