https://hoodline.com/2024/07/newburgh-resident-fiona-walters-pleads-guilty-to-money-laundering-in-lottery-scam-targeting-seniors/

Fiona Lorraine Walters, a 50-year-old resident of Newburgh, NY, entered a guilty plea to a charge of Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering. Scheduled to receive her sentence on September 23, Walters could face up to 20 years in prison. Between July 5, 2016, and August 15, 2020, she engaged in the laundering of over $300,000 from fraudulent schemes that preyed primarily on the elderly, as reported by the Department of Justice.

In the court, Walters admitted to utilizing her own and her family members’ bank accounts to funnel the ill-gotten gains from a lottery scam. Although believing they were paying fees to claim lottery or sweepstakes winnings, the victims, many faced with the twilight of their years, were deceived. Walters and her cohorts transferred or kept these monies, and not a single promised 'winning' made its way to these victims.

The gravity of the consequence for Walters' action is a maximum fine of $500,000, or twice the sum of the funds involved in the offense, in addition to the prospect of 20 years of her life behind bars. The aftermath of her choices also includes a potential three-year term of supervised release once any confinement is served. Her criminal acts were brought to light and prosecuted under the Elder Justice Initiative, a Department of Justice effort focused on protecting seniors from financial abuse.

Assistance to elders who have fallen prey to financial fraud is available through the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311), where experienced professionals offer personalized support. They assess the victims' needs by identifying relevant next steps, including reporting agencies, and providing resources or referrals tailored to each case. Staffed weekdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, the hotline supports multiple languages to accommodate a broader range of callers.

The United States Postal Inspection Service spearheaded the investigation leading to Walters' plea. The case is being managed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Sue Feldmeier from the District of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. For further details pertaining to this case, reference is made to the official release number 2024-092_Walters, and the case number is CR-23-01158-TUC-SHR.