Local Woman Admits to Wire Fraud Scheme

A St. Louis woman pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges for deceiving multiple victims into paying her large sums of money, claiming she could assist them with various legal matters.

Theresa Moore, a resident of St. Louis, Missouri, admitted to employing various aliases and claiming to be with law enforcement and the legal profession to induce victims to pay her money.

According to court documents, Moore contacted her victims by telephone and made false representations about non-existent legal matters, including identity theft and legal settlements.

In one case, Moore met an elderly widower through a telephone dating service in July 2009 and soon after, Moore and her associates began contacting him by telephone, informing him he was a victim of identity theft.

Moore deceived the man into believing he was entitled to restitution and that he had to pay money up front in order to collect the restitution payment. The Government believes the man paid Moore in excess of $60,000 over the course of about three years.

Moore and one of her associates also contacted victim J.N. by telephone in May 2011, informing J.N. that there were several warrants out for the arrest of J.N.’s adult daughter, P.N., who had developmental learning disabilities.

Moore enlisted an associate who posed as a police detective in order to lend credibility to her scheme, and J.N. paid Moore in excess of $20,000 as a result of the fraud scheme.

Theresa Moore, St. Louis, Missouri, pled guilty to four felony counts of wire fraud before United States District Judge John A. Ross on January 9, 2014.

Each count of wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000. In determining the actual sentences, a Judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Hazelwood Police Department, the Clayton Police Department, The St. Louis County Police Department, and the Missouri Attorney General’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Reginald Harris is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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