EAST ST. LOUIS, ILL. — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Illinois, Southern), published as received.

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. – A district judge sentenced a Fayette County woman to 30 months’ imprisonment for working as a “money mule” within a foreign-based scam conspiracy to defraud victims out of tens of thousands of dollars and use their stolen identities.

Elizabeth Conrad, 55, of Ramsey, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, one count of mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud, one count of access device fraud, one count of money laundering – concealing nature of fraudulent proceeds and one count of aggravated identity theft. She was ordered to pay $78,480.26 in restitution to the victims.

“Foreign-based fraud conspiracies rely on money mules residing within the U.S. to receive their illicit proceeds and distance themselves from prosecution,” said U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft. “Elizabeth Conrad knowingly supported the fraud conspiracy, ignored multiple warnings from law enforcement and laundered proceeds from victims.”

According to court documents, Conrad served as a “money mule” for foreign scammers in a conspiracy to defraud U.S. victims from 2019 through 2022. Money mules are people who, at someone else’s direction, receive and move money or valuables obtained from victims of fraud. Money mules add layers of distance between crime victims and criminals, which makes it harder for law enforcement to accurately trace stolen funds.  

Conrad accepted packages at her home sent through the mail from victims containing cash, checks, gift cards and electronics. Knowing the goods were fraudulently acquired, Conrad would then repackage the items and send them off to co-conspirators. On two occasions, Conrad received deposits from fraudulently acquired PPP loans into her bank account. Conrad also attempted to deposit checks and wired funds in cryptocurrency to her co-conspirators.

“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 to enrich themselves. Postal Inspectors seek justice for victims including those most vulnerable,” said Acting Inspector in Charge, Mary Johnson, who leads the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which includes the St. Louis Domicile Office.

Conrad’s convictions for access device fraud, identity theft and money laundering stem from her and conspirators using victims’ names to acquire debit cards. Conrad received the debit cards in other people’s names at her home in Ramsey and used them to make withdrawals in the Ramsey and Vandalia area. Conrad and conspirators used at least 69 fraudulent debit cards to rack up over $30,000 in charges.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service St. Louis Field Office led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Zoe Gross prosecuted the case.