Ali M. Summers Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois
A Fayette County woman has been indicted by a southern Illinois grand jury on charges related to identity theft and money laundering. Elizabeth Conrad, 54, from Ramsey, faces multiple counts including conspiracy to commit mail fraud, mail fraud, access device fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft.
U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft cautioned the public about scams: “Criminal conspiracies are as varied as the creative minds behind them, limited only by the ingenuity of the con artists orchestrating the scheme,” he said. He advised caution when approached by strangers offering investments or asking for personal information.
Court documents allege that Conrad acted as a "money mule" in a scheme defrauding victims between June 2020 and September 2022. Money mules help scammers move money or valuables obtained through fraudulent means. The indictment claims Conrad received packages at her home containing cash, checks, gift cards, and electronics from victims and sent these items to her co-conspirators after repackaging them. She is also accused of attempting to deposit checks and wiring funds using cryptocurrency.
Ruth Mendonça of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service stated: “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is charged with defending the nation’s mail system from illegal use.” She emphasized their role in investigating financial schemes involving the U.S. Mail and seeking justice for victims.
Conrad's charges extend beyond mail fraud to include access device fraud and identity theft. She allegedly used victims' names to acquire debit cards for withdrawals and purchases benefiting the conspiracy. The indictment details ten fraudulent transactions made at ATMs and gas stations in southern Illinois from March through June 2022.
An indictment is not a conviction; it formally charges a defendant who remains presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
If convicted, Conrad could face up to 20 years for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and money laundering, up to 10 years for access device fraud, five years for conspiracy to commit access device fraud, and a mandatory two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft.
The investigation is led by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service St. Louis Field Office with Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Gross prosecuting the case.
