Deaf “money mule” convicted for $1.2 million in scams

The Department of Justice announced on Friday that a 62-year-old deaf woman from Indiana named Donna L. Summerlin was found guilty of bilking over $1.2 million from over 100 deaf, elderly, or both deaf and elderly victims in the U.S., Canada, and Australia.

The DOJ said there was a seven-day federal jury trial with multiple interpreters that found Summerlin guilty of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. She was found guilty after about an hour of deliberations. She faces up to 20 years in prison.

Summerlin contacted victims through Facebook and told them that they won some kind of lottery or a large financial gift, then instructed them to send expenses for taxes or custom fees, but it was all false. The DOJ said victims were often told to make additional payments without any financial reward.

An elderly deaf couple who lived in D.C. is said to send Summerlin around $500,000, which depleted their life savings.

[Sponsored Video from Convo: https://www.convorelay.com/download ]

The DOJ called Summerlin a “money mule” who acted as an intermediary for other fraudsters who used fake names and photographs to disguise themselves in their contacts with victims. She had over 40 bank accounts, would send funds to co-conspirators in Nigeria and Great Britain using Western Union and MoneyGram, and withdraw money for personal benefit.

According to alumni at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, Summerlin graduated from the school in 1977 and was homecoming queen. Many people posted comments expressing shock and outrage.

I was able to interview a deaf man who said he was a victim of Summerlin. I will show the interview tomorrow.

DOJ press release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdpa/pr/indiana-woman-convicted-conspiracy-commit-mail-fraud-wire-fraud-and-money-laundering