[Yahoo] A retired FBI agent stole $800,000 from a woman by convincing her she was on "secret probation" and needed to comply or risk losing her children as part of a years-long scheme, prosecutors say.| One wonders what kind of an FBI agent he was before he retired... |
Prosecutors did not identify the victim in the case but said she was a woman from the small Texas city of Granbury.
Stone told the woman that the fake judge had appointed him as her "mentor" to "supervise" her, prosecutors said. He allegedly told his victim she had to disclose to him all of her activities and assets, and said she was required to pay him his travel costs and other fees he incurred while supervising her, court documents said.
He also told her she was not allowed to tell anyone about her "secret probation" or she risked time in prison and losing custody of her children, according to court documents.
As part of the scheme, prosecutors allege Stone lied and told the woman he could monitor her cell phone records and that he had discussed her case with a psychiatrist. He also staged fake three-way phone calls between himself, his victim, and the fake judge, prosecutors allege.
Stone had told his victim that he would seek to end her probation if she accepted his proposal to marry her, prosecutors said.
Stone was charged with seven counts of wire fraud, one count of wire fraud conspiracy, one count of false impersonation of a federal officer, one count of engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from unlawful activity, and one count of making false statements to law enforcement.
Stone allegedly used the money to purchase cars, including a Mercedes Benz, and a new home.
Stone had pleaded not guilty.
"Mr. Stone denies each and every allegation," Dallas lawyer Gregg Gallian told NBC Dallas-Fort Worth. "He has entered his plea of not guilty and looks forward to exposing the truth of these misguided allegations in the courtroom."
If convicted, Stone faces up to 178 years in prison, according to the Justice Department.