Domonesha Owens, 37, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty on Jul. 22 before United States District Judge Joshua D. Wolson to conspiracy to launder a monetary instrument. United States Attorney David Metcalf announced the plea, which stems from Owens’ role as a money mule in laundering more than $1 million obtained through fraud schemes targeting government entities.
According to court filings and statements, beginning around August 2020, Owens and others conspired to conduct financial transactions involving interstate and foreign commerce while knowing the property involved represented proceeds of unlawful activity—specifically wire fraud. The indictment was filed in December of last year.
The scheme involved opening bank accounts under business names, with Owens and her co-conspirators using these accounts to move fraudulent proceeds. Multiple financial transactions were conducted with the intent to disguise the nature and location of the funds, conceal their true ownership and control, and obscure their source. In exchange for her participation in laundering these funds, Owens was allowed to keep a portion of the proceeds.
Owens specifically assisted in laundering money derived from business email compromise schemes that targeted several local governments. These included Government Entity 1 (which transferred approximately $352,779), Government Entity 2 (approximately $486,740), and Government Entity 3 (approximately $155,210) into accounts controlled by Owens.
Owens is scheduled for sentencing on November 6. She faces a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine totaling up to $2,000,270.94. The case was investigated by the FBI and United States Secret Service, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys S. Chandler Harris and Nancy Potts.