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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The Adamawa State Police Command has rescued a 12-year-old girl, Mercy Kefas, and arrested a 20-year-old woman suspected to be her abductor.
The spokesperson of the command, Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, who disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, September 19, 2026 said the minor was reported missing by her mother in Guyuk Local Government Area.
According to the PPRO, the girl was later sighted in the company of an unknown woman.
The command launched a coordinated search operation and circulated information to neighbouring communities and relevant formations.
The efforts led to the rescue of the minor and arrest of the suspect identified Jamila Yusuf around Talasse border area.
“The incident was reported on 18th September, 2026 at Guyuk Divisional Headquarters by the victim’s mother, Mrs. Mary Felix, of Birsinsin, Guyuk LGA,” the statement read.
“According to the report, the child went missing and was later sighted in the company of an unknown woman heading towards Balanga/Talasse axis.
“Upon receiving the report, the Police immediately commenced coordinated efforts to locate the child and circulated information to neighbouring communities and relevant formations.
“The swift and proactive response led to the successful rescue of the child and the arrest of the suspect around Talasse border area.
“The suspect is identified as Jamila Yusuf, 20 years, of Lafiya Village, via Balanga LGA of Gombe State. She is currently in custody.
“The rescued child has been reunited with her family.
“The Commissioner of Police, Adamawa State Command, CP Kabir Umar Hassan, fdc, commended the officers involved for their prompt response and professionalism.
“He has directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to take over the case and ensure a discreet investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“The CP assures members of the public that the Command will continue to work closely with communities to prevent child abduction and other crimes.
“The Command urges parents, guardians and members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report cases of missing children or suspicious movements to the nearest Police formation.”
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Crime
PHOTOS: FCT Police Parade 300 Suspects in Abuja, Intensify Crackdown on Robbers, ‘One-Chance’ Operators
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command arrested about 300 people during a one-day raid on suspected criminal hideouts, uncompleted buildings, scavenger points and shanties across Abuja.
FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Sanusi, said the operation was carried out over concerns about traffic r%bbery, housebreaking, stealing, car theft, phone snatching and “one-chance” syndicates operating around major intersections and traffic corridors.
He said, “Today, as you can see, we have conducted raiding in all the nooks and crannies of the FCT-uncompleted buildings, scavengers’ points, and other shanties that are not recognized by the government.
“These people have been constituting a menace: traffic r%bbery, housebreaking, stealing, and other heinous crimes. We have been able to get about 300 of them just in a day.”
Items recovered during the operation included large quantities of illicit dr¥gs and dangerous weaapons, including knives. Sanusi also warned people without legitimate business in Abuja to return to their states of origin.
He said the police would work with the judiciary for swift prosecution, while the FCT Social Welfare Department would assist in rehabilitating and repatriating non-resident vagrants where necessary.
On whether the crackdown would continue, Sanusi said, “This is going to be perpetual. We are not going to stop. Even as you go after them, new ones still keep coming. So we are going to see who will get tired first. It’s going to be continuous.”
Addressing their welfare, he said, “They are human beings, and we will treat them as human beings because we owe them that responsibility.”
He added, “Only the court will prove their guilt. We are mindful of their rights as suspects, not criminals. This is FCT; we do things differently.”
The Commissioner said the arrested individuals would be distributed across various divisional cells to prevent overcrowding and health risks, while urging the public to provide information that could help the police identify remaining criminal hideouts.
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