Woman Guilty of Elderly Shakedown, Illinois, 2023

Chicago, IL – Lee Turner, also known as “Ashley Turner,” has admitted to a cold-blooded scheme that bilked an elderly, visually impaired man out of $1.6 million. Turner pleaded guilty in federal court to using interstate communications to facilitate theft and intimidation, a tactic she employed relentlessly over three years to prey on a vulnerable victim.

The feds say Turner didn’t just ask for money; she demanded it, weaving a web of lies and fabricated threats. The victim, in his seventies, was bombarded with messages posing as gang members, organized crime figures, even corrupt law enforcement and prosecutors. These weren’t casual suggestions; they were explicit threats to expose fabricated “criminal activity” and raid his home and the home of a relative. The goal? Simple: instill enough fear to keep the cash flowing.

The scam wasn’t a one-time ask. Turner, operating under aliases like “Big Joe,” allegedly strong-armed the victim into dozens of payments ranging from $5,000 to $66,000. One particularly brazen instance detailed in the plea agreement involved a $30,000 demand in June 2019, supposedly to prevent an imminent law enforcement raid. The victim, understandably terrified, complied. That single payment is just a drop in the bucket of the $1,611,975 Turner ultimately stole.

Federal prosecutors, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney David B. Green, built the case with assistance from the FBI’s Chicago office and the Orland Park Police Department. Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual announced the guilty plea, a small victory in a city rife with scams targeting the vulnerable. But it’s a stark reminder of the lengths some will go to for a quick buck, and the devastating impact on those they victimize.

Turner faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Judge Manish S. Shah has scheduled sentencing for September 8, 2023. While a conviction is secured, it doesn’t erase the financial and emotional damage inflicted on the victim. The Grimy Times will be in court for the sentencing and will continue to follow this case.

This isn’t an isolated incident. Illinois, particularly the Chicago area, sees a disturbing number of these elder fraud schemes. The feds are urging anyone who suspects they or a loved one has been targeted to report it immediately. The promise of a hefty prison sentence may deter some, but for predators like Turner, the lure of easy money often outweighs the risk.