A brazen scheme to swindle unsuspecting individuals out of tens of thousands of dollars has landed a Toledo mother and son in hot water. Patsy A. Schmidt, 53, and her son Bradley Schmidt, 22, were charged with one count of conspiracy to launder money and one count of money laundering, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.
The Schmidt duo allegedly targeted individuals selling items on websites such as Craigslist.com, sending them emails expressing interest in the items when they had no intention of buying them. They would then request the victims wire a fee to a pick-up agent via Western Union or MoneyGram, claiming it was to cover the cost of shipping or hauling.
However, the Schmidts would then cease communication and keep the money that had been wired to them. The scheme involved victims from across the country, including Massachusetts, Oregon, Texas, and Washington, who sent money to the Toledo area.
According to the charges, Patsy Schmidt fraudulently obtained nearly $50,000 between 2010 and 2013, while Bradley Schmidt fraudulently obtained nearly $24,000 between 2012 and 2013.
The Schmidts then wired the proceeds of the fraud to co-conspirators in Nigeria and retained a portion of the money for themselves.
The case is being investigated by the United States Secret Service, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Noah P. Hood handling the case. The Schmidts are entitled to a fair trial, where the government will have to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The exact sentence for the defendants will be determined by the court after reviewing factors unique to the case, including their prior criminal record, their role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.
Patsy A. Schmidt, 53, and Bradley Schmidt, 22, of Toledo, Ohio, are the defendants in this case. The exact date of the charges is not specified in the source. The exact sentence or outcome for the defendants is also not specified in the source.
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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