Woman who traveled the country impersonating victims to commit bank fraud sentenced to six years in prison

Seattle – A leader in a nationwide $1.4 million bank fraud scheme was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to six years in prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller. Amber Towndrow, 36, was indicted along with coconspirator Darby Canfield, 35, in April 2024. At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead said, “This was not a simple crime of desperation, this was a sophisticated nationwide fraud…. It was not a momentary loss in judgement. Despite one arrest, you continued in the scheme…. You did not just steal money, you stole peace of mind.”

“This was a sophisticated scheme using stolen information, fake IDs and business registration requirements across different states. This defendant was a primary actor for the operation,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Miller. “She successfully impersonated her victims – indeed she memorized all the details of their lives. This significant federal sentence is aimed at setting her on a new, law-abiding path.”

According to records filed in the case, Towndrow and her coconspirators acquired personal identifying information for at least 19 victims nationwide. In Western Washington, the co-schemers used that personal information to register businesses with the Washington Secretary of State. Armed with the business documents and false identification documents such as drivers’ licenses and passports, Towndrow would open business bank accounts at financial institutions where the victim already had a personal savings account. The bank system would link the new business bank account to the real customer’s bank account. The conspirators would then transfer money from the personal bank account to the business account. Towndrow would then use a business account debit card to purchase money orders and high value goods such as designer merchandise or electronics. Towndrow and other conspirators would use various fake IDs to cash the money orders at locations such as Money Tree outlets.

With this scheme Towndrow committed bank fraud and identity theft in Washington, Colorado, Pennsylvania, California, New Jersey, Indiana, and Washington D.C.

Court records detail how Towndrow defrauded a victim living in Illinois by creating a company registered in Colorado. Towndrow listed the Illinois victim as the registered owner of the company. Towndrow traveled to a Chase branch in Seattle where she opened a business banking account for the fake company. Towndrow and her coconspirators used online banking to transfer $131,709 from the Illinois victim account to the business account.  Towndrow used the business debit card to purchase 128 U.S. Postal Service money orders totaling $126,653. The money orders were made payable to various people the co-schemers could impersonate with their fake IDs. The conspirators then cashed several of the money orders at various locations in the Seattle area.

The plea agreement admits similar conduct regarding a victim residing in Texas, who was defrauded of $75,000, of which $50,000 was used to purchase MoneyGram money orders across the Seattle area.

Towndrow admits she opened at least 50 business bank accounts and attempted to obtain $1.4 million. She admits she successfully obtained $664,000.

The crime has a significant impact on the individual victims – even when the bank ultimately replaces the money stolen from the account. One victim had $40,000 stolen from her accounts just weeks before her wedding – adding significant stress to what should have been a joyful time.  And the impact doesn’t end when the money is replaced.

Assistant United States Attorney Sean Waite wrote to the court, “for some victims, the impact may last a lifetime. Identity theft burdens victims with defending against debt collections, decreases in credit scores, and any host of expenses or liabilities that are unfairly associated with them. Victims often also encumber severe non-financial impacts, such as to their mental health and well-being.”

The case was investigated by The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Diplomatic Security Service, and the Seattle Police Department.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sean Waite.