Woman arrested in suspected $2M fraud scheme
By: North County Times wire services - | ∞
CHULA VISTA - A 54-year-old Bonita woman is suspected of masterminding a check and credit card fraud scheme that may have cost American Express about $2 million, a prosecutor said Friday.
Maria Metcalf was arrested yesterday, after a search of her Bonita-area house turned up "a boatload of paperwork," Deputy District Attorney Anna Winn said.
Investigators are still trying to determine the nature and scope of the alleged scheme, Winn said.
Evidence collected during the search indicated that Metcalf had an active and normal business relationship with American Express before she allegedly deposited a fraudulent $50,000 check in her account and then used a credit card to buy a Volvo, Winn said.
The company several days later realized the check was no good, but the car was gone, according to the prosecutor.
Winn said the firm, which issued the woman six credit cards, contacted the San Diego County Regional Fraud Task Force.
Metcalf bought another vehicle and jewelry, tried to pay off a $990,000 mortgage with a fraudulent check and sent several bad checks to the Internal Revenue Service, the prosecutor alleged.
Anti-tax literature was found in the house during the search, Winn said.
Metcalf was also apparently involved in a scheme in which other people's bills were paid off, the prosecutor alleged. How many people were in league with the woman was not yet known, she said.
The suspect has a fiance, but he has not been arrested.
Metcalf could be arraigned on Monday at the downtown San Diego Courthouse. Winn said the woman has no prior record.
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