A South Carolina resident has been sentenced in a federal court for her involvement in a prolonged embezzlement and identity theft scheme that amounted to $1.4 million. U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher imposed a sentence of 53 months imprisonment followed by 12 months of home detention on Valerie Joseph, 61, from Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. She was convicted for her role in a wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft scheme that spanned more than a decade. In addition to her prison term, Joseph has been ordered to pay restitution totaling $1.4 million.
The announcement of the sentencing was made by U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes, together with William J. DelBagno, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Baltimore Field Office. The fraudulent activities orchestrated by Valerie Joseph, along with her husband Robin, started as early as January 2011 and persisted until August 2021. The couple targeted Victim Business 1 and Victim K.F. Valerie Joseph was employed as a bookkeeper at Victim Business 1, a wholesale greenhouse and garden center located in Caroline County, Maryland.
According to court documents, Valerie and Robin Joseph made unauthorized charges across three credit card accounts held by the victims. These included accounts with American Express, Capital One, and Lowes/Synchrony Financial. Their unauthorized expenditures included over $200,000 spent at Walmart, more than $53,000 to AT&T for personal phone bills, $30,000-plus at a Japanese steak and seafood restaurant, and over $116,000 to PayPal.
Further unauthorized charges included over $90,000 to Easton Utilities for utility bills, $16,000 in tuition payments to Chesapeake College, $2,500 for college expenses at the University of Hawaii, and $3,800 on cosmetics. The pair also amassed charges exceeding $195,000 with Lowes, primarily for home renovation materials at their former residence in Easton, Maryland.
Moreover, they exploited the victims' account to fund airline tickets, cruises, Airbnb expenditures, numerous retailer gift cards, and over $33,000 in veterinary expenses, including luxury bird cages for their tropical pets.
Robin Joseph has pled guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft and awaits sentencing. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud conspiracy and an additional mandatory two years for aggravated identity theft.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, with commendation from U.S. Attorney Hayes. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Riley is responsible for prosecuting the case. Further information on the activities and priorities of the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, as well as resources to report fraud, can be found at their official website.
