Crime
73-Year-old woman wanted for allegedly defrauding Banks and Institutions of nearly $30 Million while posing as Heiress
A 73-year-old American woman who allegedly posed as an heiress in California is on the run after scamming nearly $30 million from banks and institutions, the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced.
Mary Carole McDonnell is wanted for her alleged involvement in a fraud scheme in Los Angeles County and Orange County, Calif., from approximately July 2017 to May 2018, according to the FBI’s press release.
The agency alleges that McDonnell, who also has ties to Montgomery, Ala., falsely claimed to be an heir to the McDonnell Aircraft Family and that she would have access to an $80 million secret trust.
She is alleged to have “knowingly, and with the intent to defraud, devised and participated in a scheme to obtain money, funds, assets, and property owned by Banc of California,” the FBI said.
Through this alleged scheme, the FBI claims McDonnell fraudulently obtained approximately $14.7 million from the bank to which she knew she was not entitled and has not repaid.
McDonnell also allegedly defrauded other financial institutions “in a similar manner” of over $15 million, per authorities.
She is described as a blonde woman weighing 145 pounds and 5’7″ with a scar on her right knee.
McDonnell previously served as the chief executive officer of the now-defunct Bellum Entertainment LLC, a Burbank-based production company that produced shows including I Married a Murderer and It Takes a Killer, according to KTLA.
The entertainment company was previously under investigation by the California Labor Commission for alleged wage nonpayment to dozens of its former workers, Deadline reported in 2017.
A federal arrest warrant was issued for McDonnell in U.S. District Court, Central District of California, Santa Ana, California, on Dec. 12, 2018, after she was charged with Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft, according to the FBI.
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A man was nabbed after over an alleged attempt to steal yams at the busy Zaki Biam Yam Market in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
The incident which occurred on Thursday, December 18, 2025 disrupted activities and drew a crowd of traders and buyers.
Eyewitnesses said the suspect was caught in the act and restrained by market traders before the situation escalated.
Preliminary accounts identified him as a vehicle conductor from Plateau State.
Traders urged that the matter be handed over to security agencies for proper investigation and warned against mob action.
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Troops of Sector 2 of the Nigerian Army in collaboration with Civilian Joint Task Force intercepted two pickup vans conveying assorted items suspected to be logistics supplies for the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Borno State.
The interception followed credible human intelligence indicating the movement of the items from Dapchi through the Magumeri general area.
According to the security analyst, the troops intercepted the vehicles during the operation and took the drivers into custody for further interrogation.
Items recovered from the two vehicles included 31 spare tyres, 23 spare rims, two bicycles, 12 key starters, three alternators, two bags of flour, one mattress, five bags of charcoal, 34 tubers of yam, two blankets, nylon bags containing garri, adult and children clothing, one power bank, six mobile phones and a cash sum of N92,600.
The vehicles and recovered items were currently in custody, while investigations were ongoing to determine the extent of the suspects’ involvement and possible links to ISWAP logistics networks.
The troops, sources said, remained committed to disrupting the movement of supplies to terrorist groups and maintaining pressure on criminal elements across the area of responsibility.
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