Woman claiming to be heiress allegedly defrauded California bank of nearly $30 million, authorities say
A woman allegedly posed as an heiress and defrauded banks and institutions in Los Angeles and Orange counties of nearly $30 million, authorities said.
According to an FBI news release, between July 2017 and May 2018, 73-year-old Mary Carole McDonnell falsely claimed to be the heir to the McDonnell Aircraft Family and said she would have access to an $80 million secret trust fund.
The FBI is now asking for the public’s help in locating the fugitive, who remains at large.
McDonnell Aircraft Company, founded by James S. McDonnell, is a major aerospace and defense contractor that produces military jets such as the F-4 Phantom II and NASA’s Mercury and Gemini space capsules. His son, John F. McDonnell, is chairman of McDonnell Douglas Corp. and has a net worth of approximately $183 million.
McDonald is accused of fraudulently obtaining approximately $14.7 million from California banks and defrauding other institutions, resulting in losses of more than $15 million, according to an FBI release.
On December 12, 2018, a federal arrest warrant was issued for McDonald in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in Santa Ana after she was charged with aggravated identity theft and bank fraud, according to a press release.
McDonald is believed to be in Dubai, officials said. She was born in Michigan and also has ties to Montgomery, Alabama.
She is described as having blond hair and weighing 145 pounds. She is 5 feet 7 inches tall and has a scar on her right knee.
McDonald also served as CEO of Bellum Entertainment LLC, a Burbank-based production company behind such TV series as “I Married a Murderer” and “The Killer,” according to KTLA.
