Baton Rouge Woman Arrested for Orchestrating a Casino-Related Money Laundering Scam
Local Authorities Uncover Fraud Scheme Involving Credit Union and Casino
A 27-year-old woman from Baton Rouge has been charged with orchestrating a scam that resulted in the theft of over $100,000 from a local credit union. The stolen money was allegedly funneled through a well-known casino in the area.
Details of the Fraudulent Operation
Officials announced the arrest of Ashana K. Webb, who is facing multiple charges including bank fraud, grand theft exceeding $25,000, and illegal money transactions. The investigation revealed that Webb launched a phishing scam targeting members of Neighbors Federal Credit Union as early as May.
Members received suspicious text messages prompting them to verify questionable purchases. Victims who responded were contacted by individuals posing as credit union fraud investigators. They were instructed to reveal their online banking credentials under the false pretense that their accounts would be temporarily frozen for security checks. Subsequently, many members reported their accounts had been drained.
The police linked Webb to the scheme after reviewing financial transactions and surveillance footage. On May 2, Webb reportedly opened two accounts at the credit union using false identification. Shortly after, $10,000 was deposited into these accounts and later transferred to accounts Webb had created at the local casino.
CCTV footage showed Webb receiving cash from a casino employee on May 4, which tied her directly to the misappropriated funds.
Consequences and Warnings from Authorities
Neighbors Federal Credit Union has disclosed a total loss of nearly $160,000 involving multiple accounts. One victim alone suffered a loss exceeding $106,000. Law enforcement suspects the scam is part of a larger criminal network coordinating sophisticated schemes.
If convicted, Webb could face a prison term of up to 40 years and fines amounting to more than $250,000 under Louisiana statutes.
The credit union has reiterated its stance against sharing personal information, warning members to remain vigilant against fraudulent communications. They emphasized that they never request login details, passwords, or PINs through phone calls or text messages.
Investigations are ongoing to determine if others were involved. This case serves as a reminder for all bank customers to stay alert to phishing attempts that exploit their trust in financial institutions.
