A Westfield woman has admitted in federal court that she fleeced an elderly neighbor and the neighbor’s friend out of more than $672,000, turning a chance encounter after a car crash into a long-running scam, according to prosecutors. Court records say the victim wound up so deep in the hole that she took out personal loans, signed a second mortgage and picked up extra work to keep up with what she believed were legitimate bills. In all, the victim and her friend lost $672,086, court documents state. The defendant, 51-year-old Shayna Williams, has pleaded guilty to a wire-fraud charge and will be sentenced at a later date.
How investigators say the scheme worked
According to court documents reviewed by WIBC 93.1 FM, the pattern started after a car crash involving Williams and the elderly victim roughly six years ago. Investigators say that after the wreck, Williams told the woman that her daughter needed surgery for severe back injuries and that the family was drowning in medical debt, at one point claiming the daughter needed a walker and an in-home elevator.
Prosecutors say Williams doubled down on the story by sending text messages while posing as an insurance agent who was supposedly haggling over hospital bills. Believing she would eventually be reimbursed, the victim covered the costs, prosecutors say, until the supposed emergencies forced her into personal loans, a second mortgage and extra hours as a food-delivery driver just to keep up.
Federal penalties and rising elder fraud
Prosecutors say Williams’s conduct falls under the federal wire-fraud statute, which covers schemes that use interstate wires and allows for penalties including up to 20 years in prison and fines in many cases, according to 18 U.S.C. § 1343. Federal courts can also order restitution to help repay victims under sentencing rules.
It is happening against a troubling national backdrop. Scams targeting older Americans have surged in recent years, with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reporting that Americans age 60 and older suffered about $7.7 billion in reported losses last year, according to the FBI.
What’s next in the case
Williams has entered a guilty plea, and no sentencing date has been set, according to court records. The case was investigated by the FBI’s Indianapolis field office along with the Carmel Police Department, court documents say. Federal prosecutors are expected to file sentencing recommendations, and the judge can impose both restitution and prison time under the wire-fraud law.
How to protect older loved ones
If you suspect financial exploitation of an older adult in Indiana, you can report it to Indiana Adult Protective Services at 1-800-992-6978 or through the state’s online reporting portal, as outlined by Indiana Adult Protective Services. You can also submit a complaint to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3 and contact local law enforcement.
Officials advise keeping copies of text messages, bank statements and any other paperwork that looks suspicious, since those records can be crucial evidence in criminal investigations and efforts to recover money through restitution.
