Texas woman who defrauded Wisconsin business owner sentenced to federal prison, pay over $1 million in restitution
(WFRV) – On Wednesday, a Texas woman who reportedly defrauded a small business owner in Wisconsin was sentenced to federal prison and was ordered to pay over $1,000,000 in restitution to the victim.
According to a release, 35-year-old Sarah Doherty of Stephenville, Texas, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for wire fraud and tax evasion. Doherty pleaded guilty to the charges against her on April 9.
Authorities say that between 2016 and 2020, Doherty executed a scheme that included fictitious identities to defraud the small business owner in central Wisconsin. The reported scheme began after Doherty befriended the victim and gained access to his personal finances.
Gene Meyer sentenced to life in prison for decades-old cold case murder of Betty Rolf
Doherty allegedly began using the victim’s money to pay her personal expenses, which reportedly included a down payment on a property in Colorado and a seven-horse trailer.
The previously mentioned fictitious identities were also used to get the victim to send her money, including one named ‘Cindy Lou,’ who was a fake matchmaker to whom the victim sent money to set him up on dates with women. Doherty would then use this matchmaking scheme to get the victim to send more money to the other fictitious women via email.
Other schemes and alter egos conducted by Doherty against the same victim included a fake travel agent and investment advisor. The release also noted that during 2019, Doherty had direct access to the victim’s business credit card.
An indictment alleged that the business was defrauded of an estimated $3.43 million.
U.S. Marshals conduct operation in Wisconsin, 260 arrested & over $84k in currency seized
While Doherty was on release and awaiting trial, she reportedly continued to ‘engage in fraudulent conduct’ while under the supervision of the United States Pretrial Services. As a result of her multiple violations of pretrial release, she was ordered into custody on March 19.
At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge William M. Conley stated that Doherty’s fraud scheme was a “web of misrepresentations” that had a devasting impact on the victim and his business. Judge Conley also stated that Doherty had “consistently demonstrated a pathological affinity for fraudulent conduct,” and that he had never seen “a more dismal performance by a white-collar defendant on pretrial supervision.”
As part of her sentence, Doherty was ordered to pay $1,025,064.74 in restitution to the victim.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
