A St. Louis County woman has been sentenced to a total of 93 months in federal prison for her involvement in gun offenses and multiple fraud schemes, including online scams targeting older adults, pandemic relief fraud, and mortgage fraud.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge John A. Ross ordered Shirley Waller, 43, to serve 78 months for her role in the fraud cases. This sentence will be served consecutively with a previous 15-month sentence she received for being a felon in possession of firearms. The court also directed Waller to pay $313,711 in restitution to her victims.
Waller pleaded guilty in June to wire fraud and conspiracy charges related to mail fraud and the use of an assumed name. According to her plea agreement, Waller acted as a "money mule" by assisting scammers who used various tactics—including romance scams—to deceive victims into sending cash through the mail.
Authorities began investigating after the daughter of a 71-year-old local woman reported that $35,000 had been mailed to Waller's address as part of such a scam. Investigators found that more than 70 Express Mail packages were delivered to Waller’s home over two months ending November 1, 2023. During a search on January 12, 2024, law enforcement discovered two firearms and additional packages addressed under variations of Waller's name. Fourteen identified victims sent $94,150 to her residence. Officials estimate that over $1 million was stolen by overseas scammers connected through Nigerian IP addresses based on nearly 200 tracked packages between September 2023 and April 2024.
Waller also admitted she obtained a Paycheck Protection Program loan for $19,235 using false information about running a business in Michigan. She used these funds for international travel and later attempted—unsuccessfully—to secure another fraudulent loan by hiding the existence of the first one and inflating business income.
Additionally, Waller secured a $196,000 mortgage loan by lying about her marital status, income level, employment history, and submitting forged financial documents.
Judge Ross had previously sentenced Waller in March to serve time for firearm possession as a convicted felon.
Inspector in Charge Ruth Mendonça from the Chicago Division 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. With the collaborative efforts of our federal and local law enforcement partners, Postal Inspectors investigate fraudsters who utilize the U.S. Mail to perpetuate financial schemes to defraud others in order to enrich themselves. Postal Inspectors seek justice for victims, including those most vulnerable.”
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service alongside the Town and Country Police Department and FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry led prosecution efforts.
