BOSTON, Mass. - A Methuen woman was convicted today in federal court in connection with a scheme to defraud her creditors.

CASANDRA LITTLES, 49, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Douglas P. Woodlock to one count of mail fraud. In 2009, Littles opened credit card accounts with various retailers and made purchases using the available credit, but failed to pay off the balances. In 2011, she sought to avoid her outstanding credit card debt by falsely representing to her creditors that she had not made the purchases. Littles, who represented herself to be a victim of identity theft, further falsely represented that she could not have incurred the debts in 2009 because at that time she was in prison, serving a federal sentence.

To support her false representations, Littles submitted documents to her creditors including a false Affidavit of Identity Theft and a phony letter, purportedly written by a U.S. Probation Officer on U.S. Probation Department letterhead, including numerous false statements. Littles’ fraud came to light when her creditors checked the veracity of the submitted letter with the U.S. Probation Department and learned that it was a forgery.

Judge Woodlock scheduled sentencing for September 20. Littles faces up to 20 years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Special Agent in Charge Steven D. Ricciardi, U.S. Secret Service, Boston Field Office, made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori J. Holik of Ortiz’s Economic Crimes Unit.

 

 

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