Florida Resident Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Charge in Nationwide Fraud Scheme

GRAND RAPIDS – U.S. Attorney Timothy VerHey announced that Florida resident Danielle Diarbakerly, age 38, pled guilty in federal court to money laundering conspiracy for her role in a multi-state fraud scheme that caused more than $3 million in losses to victims. Diarbakerly faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine, and will owe restitution to the victims.

Diarbakerly was indicted by a grand jury in January 2025 and accused of participating in a conspiracy to launder the proceeds of a fraud scheme that ran from at least January 2020 to September 2024. Court records reflect that Diarbakerly admitted that she and others were members of a conspiracy that was designed to defraud people living throughout the United States, including in West Michigan, and conduct financial transactions using that money to conceal the source, control, or location of the fraudulent proceeds. Some members of the conspiracy contacted victims and persuaded them that they had won large prizes in a multistate lottery. To claim these prizes, the victims were told that they would have to pay taxes and fees associated with their winnings. The victims were instructed to send their money, by wire transfer or mail, to shell companies created by Diarbakerly for that purpose. Once the money arrived, she quickly moved the funds into other shell companies that she controlled or sent it to other conspirators. Diarbakerly knew the funds were fraudulent proceeds.

“Every day, fraudsters attempt to steal money earned by hardworking Americans and from vulnerable retirees living on fixed incomes. Federal law enforcement is relentlessly pursuing everyone responsible for committing those frauds, including those who facilitate these reprehensible financial crimes. We all must remain vigilant when receiving unsolicited communications to avoid falling victim to these schemes,” said U.S. Attorney Tim VerHey.

“These schemes have sadly become increasingly widespread across our state and across the country,” said ICE HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “Thankfully, our agents, law enforcement partners and prosecutors will do everything they can to track down these culprits and hold them accountable under the law. This case is a good reminder for the community to check in on their loved ones, discuss these schemes and how families can protect themselves.”

“Schemes that drain the bank accounts of everyday people are terrible and steal the safety and security of victims across the county,” said Karen Wingerd, Special Agent in Charge, Detroit Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “IRS Criminal Investigation is dedicated to flushing out fraudsters and protecting tax-paying Americans from crimes like these that jeopardize their way of life.”

Homeland Security Investigations and IRS Criminal Investigation continue to investigate this matter.