Woman Who Stole From Charity Sentenced To 78 Months
SAN FRANCISCO – Sharee M. Hall was sentenced yesterday to 78 months in prison and ordered to pay $94,325 in restitution for committing wire fraud and money laundering, United States Attorney Melinda Haag announced. Hall was convicted on Oct. 25, 2011, following an eight-day jury trial.
Based on the evidence presented at trial, the jury found that Hall participated in a scheme to defraud One Foundation, a charitable organization founded by actor Jet Li that is devoted to causes that include disaster relief, education and relief for the poor. The wire fraud conviction was based on the unauthorized online transfer of $94,325 from One Foundation’s bank account into Hall’s account at HSBC Bank. The money laundering conviction was based on Hall’s purchase of a cashier’s check for $102,500 using funds stolen from One Foundation.
Hall, 34, was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 8, 2011. A superseding indictment was returned on Aug. 23, 2011. She has been in custody since her arrest on March 25, 2011. Hall had previously suffered thirteen felony convictions for various fraud and theft-related offenses. In sentencing her to serve 78 months in prison, the court found that Hall had obstructed justice by committing perjury during her testimony at trial.
The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Richard Seeborg following a jury’s verdict convicting Hall of one count of wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343, and one count of money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957. Judge Seeborg also sentenced the defendant to a five-year period of supervised release.
Tracie L. Brown and Matthew L. McCarthy are the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who prosecuted the case with the assistance of Rayneisha Booth. The prosecution is the result of a lengthy investigation by the U.S. Secret Service.
