Former Shadow Creek Ranch manager charged with wire fraud

HOUSTON – A 62-year-old Houston resident is set to appear in federal court on charges she defrauded a property management company, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer B. Lowery.

Maria Denise Southall-Shaw is charged with one count of wire fraud. She is set to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Ellison at 2 p.m. today.

Southall-Shaw was the former manager of Shadow Creek Ranch in Pearland. First Service Residential (FSR) is Shadow Creek’s property management company and employed Southall-Shaw, according to the information.

She allegedly engaged in a scheme to defraud FSR. The information alleges that between December 2013 and November 2017, Southall-Shaw approved invoices from a ranch vendor for goods and services she knew the vendor had not provided, according to the allegations.

Southall-Shaw allegedly caused this vendor to kickback to her 50% of the payment the vendor received, which totaled $421,519.

If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in federal as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine.  

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Braddock is prosecuting the case.

An information is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.