East Moline Man, Woman Indicted on Charges of Conspiracy, Wire Fraud Stemming From Internet Scam

Rock Island, Ill. – Arraignment and detention hearings have been scheduled on Monday, June 1, 2015, in federal court for an East Moline, Ill., man and woman charged with participating in a conspiracy to defraud victims using Facebook and email. Barbara Segura, 57, and Frederico Sausedo, 48, both of the 1000 block of Avenue of the Cities, made their initial appearance in federal court in Rock Island today before U.S. District Judge Sara Darrow. Both defendants were ordered to remain detained in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending Monday’s hearing at 11:00 a.m. The grand jury returned the 10-count indictment last week; however, the indictment remained sealed pending the defendants’ court appearance today.

The indictment alleges that from approximately June 2014 to February 2015, Segura and Sausedo conspired with others to target victims using Facebook to offer large amounts of money in the form of prizes or grants.  Victims were allegedly told they would receive prizes or grants as long as they first paid taxes and fees to Segura or Sausedo.  The indictment alleges that individuals duped by this scheme wired payments to bank accounts held by Segura or Sausedo, but never received prizes or grants.  Segura and Sausedo allegedly withdraw the proceeds of the wire transfers and sent much of it to co-conspirators in Nigeria and elsewhere. The indictment alleges that the losses from this scheme were at least $95,000.

If convicted, the offense of conspiracy (one count) to commit wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  If convicted of wire fraud (nine counts), the statutory maximum penalty for each count is 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1,000,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Micah Reyner is prosecuting the case.  The charges are the result of an investigation by the East Moline Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation; each defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.