CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Margo Ann Williams, a 63-year-old accountant and business instructor from Scranton, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 48 months in federal prison for laundering over $800,000 tied to a business email compromise (BEC) scheme that spanned multiple states.
Williams was found guilty in September 2024 on charges including bank fraud and money laundering. Between December 2022 and July 2023, she helped divert funds from five victims by using hacked business email accounts that tricked individuals into wiring money to fraudulent bank accounts she controlled.
Among the victims was a Cedar Rapids church involved in a $7 million renovation project. The church was misled by fake emails into wiring over $466,000 to Williams’ shell company, MBCI & Evercorp, LLC.
Other victims included a hotel manager in Colorado and a nonprofit in Washington state, all deceived during major financial transactions by forged communications that appeared legitimate.
Williams opened several bank accounts to receive the stolen funds. She claimed she was influenced by a supposed romantic relationship with a famous British actor, a claim that prosecutors said lacked credibility. She personally profited about $25,000 and made unauthorized purchases with the rest of the laundered money.
U.S. District Judge Leonard T. Strand ordered her to pay over $594,000 in restitution and serve three years of supervised release after her prison term. As per federal guidelines, there is no parole available.
The case highlights how cybercriminals exploit trusted communication channels in professional settings, causing significant financial and emotional harm to victims.
