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Wild CIA tale scams 22 out of almost $1 million
La. woman faces prison for making claims involving satellites and spies
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Updated: 10:59 a.m. ET Jan 22, 2007
SHREVEPORT, La. - She claimed to be a CIA agent who could have satellites scan people’s bodies for disease, then have CIA agents administer secret medicines to them while they slept.
As far-fetched as her story was, Stacey Finley convinced 22 neighbors, in-laws and friends in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi to pay her nearly $1 million over the past six years.
The 34-year-old Farmerville resident will be sentenced May 7 on one charge of wire fraud. Until then, she is under house arrest, U.S. Attorney Donald Washington said.
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She pleaded guilty Tuesday and could get up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000. As part of her guilty plea, she acknowledged that the judge must order her to repay the money, and that she defrauded her victims of $989,898.
She is “a predator who preyed on basic human fears,” and deserves the maximum, Washington said. However, the guilty plea calls for some consideration that her guilty plea allowed the government to avoid the cost of preparing for trial.
Prosecutors described the victims as “solid, middle-class, educated citizens” who ranged from young adults to elderly. Most were friends and relatives of Finley’s husband, authorities said.
“She can be best be thought of as a cult-like, charismatic personality who could convince the victims this scam was real,” Washington said.
Husband not charged
According to investigators, Finley claimed she could arrange a satellite scan of her victims’ bodies, detecting hidden medical problems, and that CIA agents would then enter their homes while they slept and administer secret medicines that would prevent serious health problems and hereditary diseases
Some of the victims depleted their savings, pensions and life insurance to pay her, authorities said.
Authorities said Finley used the money for living expenses, mortgage payments and clothes — although she and her husband had five vehicles. Most things were paid for with cash.
The husband has not been charged. Washington would not say if he is being investigated.
© 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
La. woman faces prison for making claims involving satellites and spies
MORE PECULIARITY
• Olmert gets caught by Google trick
• 3 arrested after stolen GPS traced
• Shot duck survives 2 days in refrigerator
• Sword-wielding student wins
• Escaped chimp gets snack, cleans toilet
• 3 pregnant teens accused in Utah attack
• Cat found hungry after weeks in cargo hold
MESSAGE BOARD
• Share your thoughts on the world’s strange happenings.
• Which story in Peculiar Postings was the strangest? Click here on Mondays to register your opinion and visit anytime to see which ones other people think are most peculiar!
Most Popular
• Most Viewed • Top Rated • Most E-mailed
• Hunt for kidnapped mom, 4 children expands
• Man kills self, wife before couple’s daughters
• Cowboys' Parcells retires from coaching
• Rare snowstorm surprises Arizona residents
• Bombs kill scores of people in central Baghdad
• Most viewed on MSNBC.com
• New life for ridiculed dog species
• DNA exonerations raise issues in Texas county
• Odd Parallels
• Staph germ causes quick, deadly pneumonia
• Bold move escalates space war debate
• Most viewed on MSNBC.com
• Doggie beer? Pet shop owner sees a niche
• New life for ridiculed dog species
• Parents rebel against birthdays gone wild
• Cowboys' Parcells retires from coaching
• New nuclear power ‘wave’ — or just a ripple?
• Most viewed on MSNBC.com
Updated: 10:59 a.m. ET Jan 22, 2007
SHREVEPORT, La. - She claimed to be a CIA agent who could have satellites scan people’s bodies for disease, then have CIA agents administer secret medicines to them while they slept.
As far-fetched as her story was, Stacey Finley convinced 22 neighbors, in-laws and friends in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi to pay her nearly $1 million over the past six years.
The 34-year-old Farmerville resident will be sentenced May 7 on one charge of wire fraud. Until then, she is under house arrest, U.S. Attorney Donald Washington said.
Story continues below ↓
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
advertisement
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
She pleaded guilty Tuesday and could get up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000. As part of her guilty plea, she acknowledged that the judge must order her to repay the money, and that she defrauded her victims of $989,898.
She is “a predator who preyed on basic human fears,” and deserves the maximum, Washington said. However, the guilty plea calls for some consideration that her guilty plea allowed the government to avoid the cost of preparing for trial.
Prosecutors described the victims as “solid, middle-class, educated citizens” who ranged from young adults to elderly. Most were friends and relatives of Finley’s husband, authorities said.
“She can be best be thought of as a cult-like, charismatic personality who could convince the victims this scam was real,” Washington said.
Husband not charged
According to investigators, Finley claimed she could arrange a satellite scan of her victims’ bodies, detecting hidden medical problems, and that CIA agents would then enter their homes while they slept and administer secret medicines that would prevent serious health problems and hereditary diseases
Some of the victims depleted their savings, pensions and life insurance to pay her, authorities said.
Authorities said Finley used the money for living expenses, mortgage payments and clothes — although she and her husband had five vehicles. Most things were paid for with cash.
The husband has not been charged. Washington would not say if he is being investigated.
© 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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