ALEXANDRIA, Va. - An Ashburn woman was sentenced today to over 15 years in prison for orchestrating a scheme that defrauded more than 50 victims of over $5 million.
According to court documents, Keisha L. Williams, 43, told individual victim lenders that she had paid a lot of money for a certain healthcare-related software overseas in Austria; that the software was being held in “escrow" because she still owed taxes, attorney’s fees, and other debt associated with the purchase; and that if they would just provide her with a short-term loan to get this software out of escrow and bring it to the United States, everyone would be quickly repaid, with interest. Williams received over $5.4 million from over 50 victims for the alleged purpose of getting this software out of escrow.
In reality, Williams spent this money on a lifestyle of luxury. For example, Williams spent more than $1 million on travel for herself and her girlfriend, including trips to Bora Bora, Italy, and the Bahamas, and on $4,000-a-night stays at the Four Seasons hotel. Williams also conspired with others to impersonate federal officials to extort money, and bribed various T-Mobile employees to obtain one of the extortion victim’s personal toll records.
G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Matthew J. DeSarno, Special Agent in Charge of the Criminal Division at the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Grace L. Hill and Jack Hanly prosecuted the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:18-cr-298.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
