Meadville Woman, 66, Indicted for Running Various Fraud Schemes

PITTSBURGH - A resident of Meadville, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, Mail Fraud, Wire Fraud and Making a False Statement to Government, United States Attorney Cindy K. Chung announced today.

The 13-count Indictment, returned on December 7 and unsealed today, named Diana Eckert, age 66, as the sole defendant.

According to the Indictment, from May 2020 to July 2021, Eckert participated in the execution of various fraudulent schemes, including decal, romance and car buying scams, targeted at individuals across the United States.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of not more than twenty (20) years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000 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 Attorneys Jeffrey R. Bengel and Karen Gal-Or are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The United States Postal Inspection 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.