Charlotte, N.C. Today, U.S. Attorney Dena J. King announced the filing of a federal civil complaint seeking the forfeiture of $597,891.46, seized as part of an investigation of at least three individuals operating as money mules responsible for transferring over $1.2 million in funds stolen from a business located in San Diego, California.
Reginald DeMatteis, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Charlotte Field Office, joins U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
A money mule is a person who, at the direction of another individual or criminal organization, transfers illicit funds typically acquired through fraud. Sometimes money mules are innocent victims unaware they are implicated in criminal activity. Other times, money mules maybe aware, or come to realize but ignore, that they are assisting a fraudster with illegal money movement activities.
“Money mules are quickly becoming the preferred method criminal networks use to transfer illicit funds. These networks, operating within the U.S. and overseas, target individuals online via romance scams, business scams, or otherwise, and turn them into money mules doing the criminals’ dirty work,” said U.S. Attorney King. “We are doing our part to cut off the flow of funds to criminal organizations, but we also need the public’s help in this effort. Be wary of anyone who contacts you online and asks you to use your bank account to move money. You could be putting in thieves’ pockets money stolen from victims of fraud.”
As alleged in the filed complaint, the U.S. Secret Service previously seized $597,891.46 from the account of Theresa Harlow, an elderly woman located in California. The complaint alleges that Harlow and at least two other individuals, identified in court documents as Money Mule 1, and Money Mule 2, allegedly moved the fraud proceeds through four different financial institutions and via multiple transactions involving checks and wires. The indictment further alleges that when law enforcement began investigating the movement of the money, the three money mules reported that they became involved when individuals reached out to them online about moving money and believed the purpose of the money transfers was to assist in business transactions and/or movement of an inheritance. In reality, as alleged in the complaint, the money the mules were moving belonged to a California business that had been defrauded.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the U.S. Secret Service for their investigative work in this case.
Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin Bain-Creed of the United States Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is in charge of the civil proceedings.
To learn more about the Department of Justice’s Money Mule Initiative and to receive more information on how to protect yourself and others please visit: https://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch/money-mule-initiative