Source: United States Attorneys General
Headline: Ashburn Woman Arrested for $5 Million Fraud Scheme
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – An Ashburn woman was arrested today on charges of orchestrating a multi-year loan fraud scheme causing approximately $5 million in losses to dozens of victims.
According to allegations in the complaint affidavit, Keisha L. Williams, 42, solicited over $5 million from individual victim lenders by telling them that she needed emergency funding to get software that she had purchased out of “escrow” in Austria. In fact, Williams spent the vast majority of victims’ money on personal expenditures, including approximately $1 million on luxury travel and $1 million on shopping and retail purchases at places like Chanel, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton.
Williams has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if convicted. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Tracy Doherty-McCormick, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Andrew W. Vale, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Grace L. Hill is prosecuting the case.
Individuals who believe they may be a victim of this fraud are encouraged to call the Eastern District of Virginia Victim/Witness Coordinators at 1-800-221-6538.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:18-mj-68.
A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.