A Baltimore County couple, James and Maureen Wilson of Owings Mills, received prison sentences after being convicted of a sprawling insurance fraud and money laundering scheme that lasted 25 years, the Department of Justice reported.
Court documents reveal the Wilsons conspired to defraud insurance companies by opening over 40 fraudulent life insurance policies. Their scheme, which began in 1996 and continued through 2021, netted them more than $20 million.
In addition to defrauding insurers, the Wilsons also deceived multiple investors. Maureen used the fraudulently obtained funds to pay premiums on the bogus policies. To conceal their operations, they funneled money through numerous bank accounts and trusts.
Both failed to report millions of dollars in income on their 2018 and 2019 tax returns—$5.7 million and $2 million respectively.
James Wilson was sentenced to 12 years in prison, while Maureen Wilson received four years. Following their sentences, both were ordered to serve three years of probation.
They must pay $16 million in restitution to their victims and an additional $2.7 million to the U.S. government. Authorities also ordered the forfeiture of nearly $14.8 million in assets.
Maryland has recently seen a rise in fraud cases, including an elder fraud incident involving an 87-year-old woman, which led to the arrest of two New York men and a law enforcement warning.
In response, AARP, Maryland’s Department of Aging, and the Baltimore FBI launched a campaign in June to combat elder fraud. The FBI reported that over 3,200 Maryland residents aged 60 and older lost $80 million to scams in 2024, with elder fraud increasing by 14% in 2023.
Separately, four individuals from New York and New Jersey were charged in a visa fraud scheme involving fake marriages, pairing U.S. citizens with migrants seeking permanent residency.
