A 72‑year‑old woman currently listed on the FBI’s most wanted roster is accused of masquerading as an airline heiress to swindle roughly $30 million from California banks and other financial institutions before making her escape to Dubai, the federal agents said.
Mary Carole McDonnell, a Michigan native, allegedly fabricated a link to the McDonnell Aircraft family and claimed she had access to an $80 million hush‑money trust. As part of the scam, she reportedly tricked Banc of California into handing over $14.7 million by presenting herself as the supposed wealth‑rich heir. She was also able to obtain an additional $15 million from other lenders across Los Angeles and Orange counties.
According to the FBI, McDonnell intentionally designed and took part in the scheme from July 2017 through May 2018. A federal arrest warrant was issued against her in 2018, but she is believed to have fled to Dubai before authorities could make an arrest.
The agency’s wanted poster shows a 72‑year‑old woman with blond hair and blue eyes, standing about 5 ft 7 in and weighing roughly 145 lb, sporting a scar on her right knee. The photo, which is a smiling mugshot, appears in the poster along with the caption describing her alleged fraud.
McDonnell’s past work history includes serving as CEO of Bellum Entertainment, a now‑defunct TV production company located in Burbank. She claimed descent from the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, a prominent aerospace manufacturer that was headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri.
She faces charges of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
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