Rodeo Star Impersonator Charged In Fraud Scheme
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Vanderbilt, Pa., has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of mail fraud, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
The five-count indictment, returned on March 6 and unsealed today, named Susan Rowan, 38, as the sole defendant. The defendant was arrested on today and her initial appearance was held before United States Magistrate Judge Cynthia Eddy.
According to the indictment presented to the Court, Rowan defrauded both Sprint Communications and a saddle-maker by impersonating a rodeo star. After receiving shipments of hundreds of cellular telephones under the pretense that they were for her fictitious company, she would use them for herself and provide them to members of her family. In addition, Rowan defrauded a saddle-maker who thought that he was entering into a sponsorship relationship with a rodeo star.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 100 years in prison, a fine of $1,250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney James T. Kitchen is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The United States Secret Service conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
