Van Zandt County Woman Sentenced For Defrauding Elderly

Defendant ordered to pay restitution of $47,236.94 to elderly victim

SHERMAN, Texas – U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzaant sentenced a Wills Point woman to federal prison for fraud violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs.

Lisa Lynn Smith, 62, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution of $47,236.94 to her elderly victim.

According to information presented in court, Smith carried out a scheme to defraud an elderly Plano man by telling him lies about urgent personal and family expenses that she was facing. Smith also convinced the victim that she would receive a lawsuit settlement for over $2.5 million and would use the money to pay the victim back for the money he was giving her. The victim would provide funds to Smith by various means, including allowing Smith access to a credit card, which Smith used for multiple purposes, such as repeatedly renting cars for her family members. Smith’s lawsuit paid nothing close to this amount, and Smith was using the money for personal and family expenses that she did not disclose to the victim.

If you or someone you know is 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the victim’s needs and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with proper agencies, and provide resources and referrals on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud, and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. They staff the hotline from 10:00 am-6:00 pm Eastern Time, Monday-Friday. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Frisco Resident Agency and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. attorneys in the Plano office.