Atlantic City Woman Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Elderly of Over $100,000

46-year-old Victoria Crosby of Atlantic City, New Jersey, has confessed to defrauding elderly individuals of over $100,000, as announced today by U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger. Crosby entered her guilty plea in federal court, acknowledging her role in a deceitful operation that preyed on senior citizens.

Victoria Crosby, an Atlantic City resident, faced U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler in Camden federal court on November 16, 2023, where she admitted to her involvement in a wire fraud scheme. The fraudulent activities led to her obtaining substantial sums from elderly victims, many of whom were grieving the recent loss of spouses or family members.

Crosby's method involved using a prepaid cellular phone to impersonate employees from retirement benefit offices or life insurance companies. She targeted individuals over 70, deceiving them into believing that their deceased relative's life insurance policies were in arrears. The victims, in an attempt to rectify these supposed underpayments, were directed to purchase prepaid cards and provide Crosby with access codes, unknowingly transferring their funds directly to her control.

The investigation revealed that Crosby withdrew the fraudulently obtained funds from various ATMs across Atlantic City, Brigantine, and Absecon, New Jersey. Furthermore, while executing this scheme, Crosby was simultaneously receiving government benefits, including Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid, as well as housing assistance from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Her undisclosed income from the fraudulent activities, totaling $110,380 between January and December 2020, would have rendered her ineligible for these benefits.

This case, which has now resulted in a guilty plea, was thoroughly investigated by a collaborative effort of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s criminal investigators, the FBI Newark Atlantic City Resident Agency, the Social Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of the Inspector General. The Maryland Office of the Attorney General also played a crucial role in the investigation.

Crosby now faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Her sentencing is scheduled for March 28, 2024. The case is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason M. Richardson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Camden.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of the elderly to financial scams and the importance of vigilance against such fraudulent schemes.