In a recent development, Lisa Lynn Smith, a 62-year-old resident of Wills Point, has been sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for wire fraud, as announced by U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.
Smith pleaded guilty to the charges and received her sentence from U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant. In addition to the prison term, she has been ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $47,236.94 to her elderly victim.
Court proceedings revealed that Smith engaged in a fraudulent scheme targeting an elderly Plano man. She deceived him with false stories about urgent personal and family expenses she claimed to be facing. Smith also convinced the victim that she was expecting a lawsuit settlement of over $2.5 million, assuring him that she would use the funds to repay him. However, Smith's lawsuit settlement yielded far less than the promised amount, and she used the money for undisclosed personal and family expenses.
The victim, trusting Smith's claims, provided funds through various means, including granting her access to a credit card. Smith utilized the credit card for purposes unrelated to the victim's assistance, such as renting cars for her family members on multiple occasions.
If you or someone you know is 60 years or older and has fallen victim to financial fraud, assistance is available through the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). Managed by the U.S. Department of Justice's Office for Victims of Crime, the hotline offers personalized support, including assessing victims' needs, identifying relevant next steps, connecting callers with appropriate agencies, and providing resources and referrals on a case-by-case basis. The hotline operates from 10 am to 6 pm Eastern Time, Monday to Friday, and offers support in English, Spanish, and other languages.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Frisco Resident Agency.
