A St. Louis County woman is facing legal trouble after being indicted on Wednesday for her involvement in three separate fraudulent schemes. Shirley Waller, 42, is accused of conspiracy related to romance fraud, pandemic relief loan fraud, and mortgage fraud, according to the United States Attorney’s Office.
The indictment claims that Waller tried to enrich herself by wrongfully obtaining a $19,235 Paycheck Protection Program loan for a Michigan business in 2021, as well as a loan for a St. Louis resale shop. Instead of using the funds for business expenses, she allegedly spent the money on personal travel to countries like Ghana, Germany, and Jamaica. This misuse is particularly serious as the loan was intended to support businesses affected by the pandemic, as reported by the United States Attorney’s Office.
On May 14, 2022, Shirley Waller is accused of fraudulently securing over $196,000 in home loans by misleading lenders about her marital status and salary, and by submitting fake W-2 forms and pay stubs. Additionally, she allegedly orchestrated a romance scam targeting a 71-year-old St. Louis County woman, convincing her she was in a relationship with a fictitious U.S. military surgeon stationed overseas. According to the indictment, Waller instructed the elderly woman to send $30,000 in cash to her address, which was then transferred through cryptocurrency and other methods linked to Nigerian IP addresses, as mentioned by the United States Attorney’s Office.
"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 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" Inspector in Charge Ruth Mendonça stated. Mendonça, who oversees the Chicago Division including the St. Louis Field Office, emphasized the joint effort to seek justice for fraud victims. Individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty, as stated by the United States Attorney’s Office.
Waller faces potential penalties of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each mail theft charge if convicted. The investigation involves the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Town and Country Police Department, and the FBI, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry. More details can be found in the original press release from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri.
