Seven Individuals Sentenced for Online Fraud Scams

摘要

On September 7, 2016, seven defendants were sentenced for their roles in online fraud schemes involving counterfeit checks, "mystery shopper" Web sites, and work-from-home scams. Funso Hassan, 27, of Ibadan, Nigeria, and Anthony Shane Jeffers, 44, of Maryville, TN, each pleaded guilty on April 12, 2016, to one count of conspiracy to commit identity theft and theft of government property and one count of use of mail and an interstate facility to distribute proceeds of a racketeering activity. Hassan and Jeffers were each sentenced to 120 months in prison. Ann Louise Franzen, 70, of Kiln, MS; Gary Melvin Barnard, 64, of Palestine, TX; Michele Gayle Fee, 55, of Stockton, CA;Tanya Lynn Thomas, 52, ofTurlock, CA; and Shawn Ann White, 44, of Manteca, CA, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit identity theft and theft of government property. Franzen, Barnard, Fee, Thomas, and White were each sentenced to 60 months in prison.The defendants were sentenced by Chief US District Judge Louis Guirola Jr. of the Southern District of Mississippi and restitution for all defendants will be determined at a later date.