Rachael Maia Winslow, a 55-year-old resident of Roswell, Georgia, convicted in international money laundering scheme
Tampa, Florida – A federal jury has found Rachael Maia Winslow guilty of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Winslow faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Her sentencing hearing will be set at a later date. Winslow was indicted on May 20, 2020.
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Winslow was a member of an international conspiracy to launder funds generated via boiler room fraud. The boiler rooms sold foreign victims what they were led to believe were legitimate investments, such as shares or stock in reputable companies such as Facebook, Chesapeake Energy, or Toys R Us. In fact, the investments were worthless, and the boiler rooms defrauded victims of over $14 million dollars, at least $4.7 million of which passed through accounts controlled by Winslow.
Winslow formed shell companies in various states, and then opened bank accounts in the names of those shell companies for the purpose of receiving fraud proceeds from victim-investors. Fraud proceeds were then wired back overseas and used to pay expenses and boiler room workers and otherwise perpetuate the scheme. Fraud proceeds were also wired to accounts controlled by coconspirators in the money laundering operation in the United States and overseas, including to Winslow’s overseas accounts, to compensate them for their roles in the conspiracy and otherwise for their personal enrichment.
The testimony and evidence presented at trial also proved that certain assets the United States is forfeiting from the defendant, specifically, $525,595.62 seized from an account in the name of Guardian Holdings, LLC, and $222,013.19 seized from an account in the name of First Assured Contact, LLC, are traceable proceeds of the offense.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rachelle DesVaux Bedke and David W.A. Chee.
Winslow participated in this scheme while living in Barcelona, Spain, and in Miami, Florida.
Defendant: Rachael Maia Winslow – Real full name or legal entity name – 55-year-old resident of Roswell, Georgia
Criminal charge: Conspiracy to commit money laundering
City and state: Tampa, Florida
Date: May 20, 2020 – Indicted
Sentence or outcome: Faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison
Dollar amounts: Over $14 million dollars defrauded, at least $4.7 million passed through accounts controlled by Winslow
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News