Today in Baltimore, Maryland, Jennifer Tinker, a 41-year-old resident of Ellicott City, Maryland, admitted guilt to a federal wire fraud charge. The announcement was made by Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, alongside William J. DelBagno, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Baltimore Field Office.
The guilty plea reveals that from January 2020 to November 2023, Tinker misappropriated over $1 million from her employer, a real estate agency. She transferred funds through various methods such as wire transfers, Zelle payments, checks, and ACH transactions into her personal bank accounts. The funds were taken from several company accounts including escrow and commission accounts.
To disguise these activities, Tinker used fake recipient names on transfer documents and modified her employer's accounting records. Over a period from February 2021 to November 2023, she conducted more than 90 fraudulent transfers to her own accounts. The stolen money financed luxury items and personal expenses including vacations and tickets for Taylor Swift concerts.
Tinker could face up to 20 years in prison followed by supervised release for life. Sentencing is set by U.S. District Judge Adam B. Abelson for April 10, 2025.
U.S. Attorney Barron acknowledged the FBI's efforts in the investigation and expressed gratitude towards Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph L. Wenner for prosecuting the case.
Further information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office can be found at their official website.
