FBI Places Fake Heiress on Most Wanted List
A woman posing as an airline heiress has landed on the FBI’s most wanted list for allegedly swindling nearly $30 million from banks, claiming to be part of a well-known aerospace family.
Mary Carol McDonnell, 74, is being sought for her supposed role in a fraud operation that took place in Los Angeles and Orange counties between July 2017 and May 2018. The FBI has detailed her activities in a press release.
Investigators allege that McDonnell pretended to be an heir to the McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Corporation, an aerospace giant famous for its commercial and military aircraft. She managed to secure millions from a California bank, asserting that she would gain access to an $80 million secret trust.
According to the FBI, McDonnell fraudulently obtained around $14.7 million from various banks while fully aware that she had no authority to do so and would not repay the funds.
It’s believed that she employed similar tactics to defraud other financial institutions, leading to estimated total losses exceeding $15 million.
The FBI states that McDonnell was involved in a scheme to secure money and property from the Bank of California, fully aware that her actions were deceitful.
Her connections are noted to include areas in Los Angeles, Montgomery, Alabama, and the United Arab Emirates.
Before her legal troubles, McDonnell served as the CEO of Bellum Entertainment LLC, based in Burbank, from 2004 until 2017.
In December 2018, a federal arrest warrant was issued for her in the Central District of California after she faced charges of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Bellum Entertainment was investigated in 2017 by the California Labor Commission for alleged unpaid wages to many former employees. Reports indicated that McDonnell had informed her staff that payment delays were due to significant bank fraud.
Her nephew, Peter McDonnell, who was a vice president at Bellum for over ten years, stated he was unaware of the bank fraud but left the company with a debt of $10,000.
McDonnell is believed to be residing in Dubai after fleeing the U.S.
She is described as a white female, standing 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing 145 pounds, with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a scar on her right knee.
The FBI urges anyone who may have information on her whereabouts to reach out to their local office or the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
