Area Woman Pleads Guilty to Fraud Charges

The United States Attorney's Office for Eastern Missouri announced Wednesday that an area woman has pled guilty to fraud charges. The Clayton Police Department was one of the investigating departments.

According to a press release: 

Theresa Moore admitted that she employed various aliases and claimed to be with law enforcement and the legal profession to induce victims to pay her money by convincing them that she could assist them with various legal matters. Moore contacted her victims by telephone and made false representations about non-existent legal matters.         

According to court documents, in July 2009, Moore met an elderly widower through a telephone dating service. Soon after making the acquaintance, Moore, and her associates, using various aliases, began contacting him by telephone to inform him he was a victim of identity theft. Moore intentionally deceived him into believing that he was entitled to restitution and that he had to pay money up front in order to collect the restitution payment. At other times, Moore intentionally deceived him into believing that he would be receiving money as part of a legal settlement but that he had to pay money up front in order to collect the settlement. In reliance on Moore's false representations, over the course of about three years the man made numerous payments to Moore. The Government believes the man paid Moore in excess of $60,000.        

In May 2011, Moore and one of her associates contacted victim J.N. by telephone and told J.N. that there were several warrants out for the arrest of J.N.'s adult daughter, P.N., who had developmental learning disabilities.  Moore stated to J.N. that Moore had paid fines on behalf of P.N. and needed to be reimbursed, when in fact, Moore was not aware of any such arrest warrants and had made no such payments. Moore enlisted an associate who posed as a police detective in order to lend credibility to her scheme. The Government believes J.N. paid Moore in excess of $20,000 as a result of the fraud scheme.        

Moore, 46, St. Louis, pled guilty to four felony counts of wire fraud before United States District Judge John A. Ross.  Sentencing has been set for January 9, 2014.        

Each count of wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000. In determining the actual sentences, a Judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.        

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Hazelwood Police Department, the Clayton Police Department, The St. Louis County Police Department, and the Missouri Attorney General’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorney Reginald Harris is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.