FBI Investigates Michigan Woman for Alleged Fraud Scheme
The FBI is currently looking into a woman from Michigan who is suspected of orchestrating a significant fraud operation in Southern California.
Mary Carol McDonnell, 73, is wanted on charges of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft linked to incidents that transpired in Los Angeles County and Orange County between July 2017 and May 2018.
The FBI states that from roughly July 2017 to May 2018, McDonnell allegedly devised and participated in a scheme aimed at unlawfully obtaining money, property, and real estate from the Bank of California.
Interestingly, she is accused of fraudulently claiming to be an heir to the McDonnell Aircraft family and asserting that she had access to an $80 million secret trust.
Somehow, she managed to secure around $14.7 million from the Bank of California, fully aware that she wasn’t authorized to do so and that she never repaid the money.
Moreover, the FBI suggests that she employed similar tactics to fraudulently extract over $15 million from various other financial institutions.
McDonnell previously held the position of CEO at Bellum Entertainment LLC, a production firm based in Burbank, California, which has documented connections to locations such as Los Angeles, Montgomery, Alabama, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
A federal arrest warrant for McDonnell was issued on December 12, 2018, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
In a twist, reports indicate that Bellum Entertainment faced scrutiny by the California Labor Commission in 2017 for allegedly failing to pay wages to numerous former employees.
It’s also noted that McDonnell informed employees that the firm could not disburse their salaries due to “serious bank fraud.”
Currently, investigators believe she might be in Dubai, describing her 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.
Anyone who might know where McDonnell is located is encouraged to reach out to their local FBI office or the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.
