Woman Sentenced for Defrauding Missouri Lottery with Credit Card Fraud Scheme

Overview of the Case

Amy Young, aged 42, has been sentenced to 23 months in prison by US District Judge Douglas Harpool. She was convicted for her involvement in a wire fraud conspiracy that targeted the Missouri Lottery and a local business.

Details of the Fraudulent Scheme

The scheme involved Young and others using stolen or fake credit card information to purchase lottery tickets. These fraudulent transactions were directed at the Missouri Lottery Commission and a gas station located in Joplin.

Impact on Businesses and Lottery

The Joplin gas station was directly affected, suffering losses of $62,082.50 due to unauthorized credit card charges made onsite during July and August 2022. The lottery tickets bought using these fraudulent cards yielded cash prizes totaling $54,248, which were claimed by the participants in the scheme.

Investigation and Outcome

Overall, the total financial damage to both the gas station and the Missouri Lottery reached $116,330.50. This case drew the attention of the FBI and the Joplin Police Department, whose combined investigation efforts ultimately led to Amy Young’s prosecution and sentencing.