Woman Accused of Federal Wire Fraud Involving Nuns
Monday, March 07, 2011
Perhaps I just have a jaded sense of humor as a criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles, but this story grabbed my attention and actually made me chuckle a bit. Being accused of a federal crime such as wire fraud, is one thing, but to be acused of defrauding nuns, well that’s quite another. Needless to say, Nuns are very unfortunate alleged victims to have for any type of criminal cases. I Linda Gagnon, a 57-year-old Tustin resident, is accused of defrauding a group of nuns for over $250,000.00. She is currently facing three charges of wire fraud in the Federal Court here in the United State District of California, Central District. Specifically, she is accused of defrauding the U.S. Province of the Religious of Jesus and Mary Inc., a congregation of Roman Catholic Nuns. Ms. Gagnon certainly is in for the fight of her life with such sympathetic alleged victims on the case. Although federal wire fraud does not carry as much potential prison time as some other federal crimes, she still faces substantial time in federal prison and will be required to pay back the entire amount of the alleged loss to the nuns. If you, or a loved one, has been accused of a federal crime, then call an experienced federal criminal defense attorney at the Law Offices of Karen L. Goldstein for a free, confidential consultation: (888) 445-6313.
The U.S. Attorneys Office alleges that the fraud occurred after Ms. Gagnon visited a convent in Rhode Island where some of the sisters in the congregation live. Ms. Gagnon offered her services as the leader of a company, Rose Enterprises, which claimed to assist clients with delinquent mortgages and real estate. Ms. Gagnon offered to help the Congregation purchase a property in San Diego. Ms. Gagnon then persuaded the nuns to wire $285,000.00 from their retirement account to her to be used for the purchase of the property. Instead of actually acquiring the property for the nuns, Ms. Gagnon allegedly used the money for personal expenses such as bills and lingerie.
884 Arrests in Alleged Federal Child Prostitution Ring
Monday, November 15, 2010
After a three day Federal crackdown on prostitution, 884 arrests have been made, including 99 alleged pimps, and 29 allege gang members involved with the federal human trafficking of underage Somali and African-American girls. This large scale Federal sweep was known as “Operation Cross Country V” and involved 40 cities across the United States. The agencies involved in the arrest and investigation included the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as well as Department of Justice (DOJ)’s Child Exploitation Obscenity Section, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
All the suspects arrested as part of this Federal prostitution investigation, will face federal criminal charges dealing with forcing a minor across sate lines to engage in prohibited sexual conduct with others. As a federal criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles who represents many clients accused of federal sex crimes, the Federal sweeps which result in numerous defendant arrests can be difficult cases to crack.
A person accused of federal human trafficking, under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which may be charged under the section of the Federal Guidelines entitled, “Promoting a Commercial Sex Act or Prohibited Sexual Conduct with a Minor; Transportation of Minors to Engage in a Commercial Sex Act or Prohibited Sexual Conduct; Travel to Engage in Commercial Sex Act or Prohibited Sexual Conduct with a Minor; Sex Trafficking of Children; Use of Interstate Facilities to Transport Information about a Minor” may face up to life in federal prison depending on the circumstances surrounding the federal prostitution allegations.
If you, or a loved one, has been accused of, or arrested for, a federal sex crime such as human trafficking, then call the experienced federal defense attorneys at the Law Offices of Karen L. Goldstein today for a free, confidential consultation: (888) 445-6313.
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