Catoosa woman halts jury trial and instead pleads guilty to fraudulently applying for $1m in loans

 

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Date: September 24, 2021

Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov

A Catoosa woman halted her own jury trial and pleaded guilty Wednesday to a 28-count indictment charging her, in part, with submitting false loan applications totaling $1 million, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. At the time of her plea, a jury had been selected and federal prosecutors were set to proceed with their case.

Pamela Kathryn Conley pleaded guilty to 24 counts of bank fraud and four counts of aggravated identity theft.

"Pamela Conley made fraud her full time job when she lied on loan applications at 10 Oklahoma financial institutions, forged signatures, and received $800,000 in loan proceeds," said Acting U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. "Conley's web of lies caught up with her after Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rick Cella and Melody Nelson and IRS and Secret Service agents meticulously and thoroughly investigated her conduct. They are to be commended for their work that led to Conley's conviction."

As part of her scheme, Conley falsified and submitted documents to apply for approximately $1 million in loans, securing more than $800,000 in loan proceeds, which gave Conley access to cash, boats, and cars to support her lifestyle. As part of her scheme, Conley submitted forged earning statements suggesting that she held high level positions at various companies and earned approximately $200,000 annually.

Sometimes lying on applications was the full extent of Conley's fraud. On other occasions, when loans were secured with collateral, Conley forged fictitious lien releases for bank collateral using the notarized signature of bank or credit union employees. Conley then caused the bogus lien releases to be filed with the Oklahoma Tax Commission. This allowed Conley to obtain clear title to the collateral without paying off her loans. This aspect of the scheme gave rise to the aggravated identity theft counts alleged in the indictment.

Chief U.S. District Judge John F. Heil III set sentencing for March 29, 2022.

IRS-Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Secret Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard M. Cella and Melody Noble Nelson prosecuted the case.