U.S federal authorities are offering US$ 150,000 for information that can aid in the arrest and conviction of a former true crime show producer who was added to the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters List for allegedly defrauding banks out of millions of dollars. Mary Carole McDonnell, 73, from Southern California was added to the list, after being charged with pretending to be an heiress to procure millions of dollars from lenders. According to a press release published Wednesday, McDonnell is wanted for bank fraud and aggravated identity theft for her alleged involvement in a fraud scheme in California. However, McDonnell has been on the FBI’s Most Wanted list since last December. The FBI launched the list in June, to target fugitives accused of major financial and white-collar crimes. “From July 2017 to May 2018, McDonnell 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 a California bank,” FBI’s Los Angeles Office said. “Through this scheme, McDonnell allegedly and fraudulently obtained a total of approximately $14.7 million from the bank to which she knew she was not entitled and has not paid back.” McDonnell is the former chief executive at Bellum Entertainment LLC, California, which produced shows such as “It Takes a Killer” and “I Married a Murderer.” The company was believed to have been having financial problems in 2017, when she obtained a loan from a bank falsely claiming she was related to the founders of McDonnell Douglas, a leading aviation and aerospace company, and had $28 million in a trust account, according to court documents. A grand jury indicted her in 2018 on charges of fraud and identity theft. McDonnell has also falsely claimed to be an heiress to “the McDonnell aircraft family,” with impending access to an $80 million secret trust. She allegedly defrauded other financial institutions in a similar manner, and is currently believed to be residing in Dubai, United Arab Emirates the press release said. McDonnell is also known to have used multiple aliases, including Mary Carole Carroll; Mary Carol McDonnell; Mary Carroll McDonnell; Mary C. Carroll; Mary Carroll McDonald. She is described as 5 feet 7 inches tall, with blue eyes and blonde hair, weighing approximately 65 kg. However, the FBI notes that she could have changed her appearance over the years and has ties to Los Angeles, California; Montgomery, Alabama; and Dubai. “Most Wanted Fraudster Mary McDonnell is wanted for defrauding financial institutions out of millions and is known to have falsified her inheritance and background,” said Patrick Grandy, the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, as quoted in the release. “It’s just a matter of time before McDonnell is caught as we work with our international partners to locate her. A generous reward is being offered in exchange for information leading to her apprehension and conviction, and a tip from the public might break the case.” Anyone with information is asked to contact their local FBI office or the nearest American Embassy or Consulate. The FBI’s toll-free tipline can be reached at 1-800-CALL-FBI or a tip can be submitted online at tips.fbi.gov. With files from The Associated Press
