A Florida mother of six has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for orchestrating a nationwide SIM-swap fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims and drained their bank accounts. Prosecutors said she rejected a five-year plea deal, opting to take her case to trial, where she was found guilty of participating in a large-scale operation involving stolen phone numbers, identity theft, and financial fraud.
Fraud Scheme Exploited Elderly Victims
Investigators reported that the woman and her associates called elderly victims, posing as legitimate representatives, and convinced them to share information that allowed the suspects to take control of their phone numbers through SIM swaps. Once the victims’ devices were compromised, the perpetrators accessed bank accounts, email, and Apple accounts, moving money, resetting passwords, and extracting sensitive data undetected.
The stolen numbers enabled the group to intercept security codes, bypass account protections, and drain thousands of dollars from multiple victims.
Evidence Linked Her to Over 50 Victims
Police searching her home recovered stolen money, personal information belonging to over 50 victims, and evidence tying her to fraudulent transactions across the country. Financial records, electronic devices, and handwritten notes detailed the operation and the extent of the victims affected. Investigators said individuals in several states suffered significant financial losses due to the scheme.
Federal Court Imposes Lengthy Sentence
Federal prosecutors highlighted the severity of the crimes, the deliberate targeting of vulnerable elderly victims, and the broad financial harm caused. The judge sentenced her to 20 years in federal prison, far exceeding the original plea offer, citing her central role in the sophisticated identity-theft operation.
Authorities emphasized that the sentence sends a strong message about the consequences of participating in organized digital fraud, particularly schemes exploiting vulnerable individuals. Federal investigators continue reviewing evidence to determine if other members of the network will face prosecution.
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