Oakland County Woman Pleads Guilty In $60K Phone Scam: Officials

MILFORD, MI — A Milford woman could spend up to 20 years in prison for her role in a $60,000 phone scam, the Western District of Michigan announced Wednesday.

Kari Melissa Morales, 51, pleaded guilty to the conspiracy to commit wire fraud charge. She faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Her sentencing date wasn't immediately scheduled.

Morales and at least one other person tried to scam a Grand Rapids resident out of $60,000 in April by threatening her with a phony federal arrest warrant for tax fraud, according to federal officials.

Officials said Morales traveled to Grand Rapids with fake documents, including an "FBI WARRANT OF ARREST" and "IRS RECEIPT."

The fake warrant said the target could be arrested for tax fraud and face up to 10 years in prison and a $95,000 fine, according to federal officials.

She planned to give the fake documents to the resident in exchange for the victim’s money, according to federal officials.

For her part in the scam, Morales was told she could keep $2,500 of the victim’s money, according to federal officials.

What Morales and her co-conspirator did not know, was that that cell phone number had been reassigned to a federal law enforcement officer in the same county, according to federal officials.

During the attempted exchange, officials said Morales was carrying a loaded firearm in a holster in her waistband and a police badge she bought that was issued to another person by a municipality in the State of Michigan.

Officials said the intended victim lost no money in the scheme.

Officials reiterated that police and court officials will never demand immediate payment to avoid arrest or solicit personal information over the phone.

"Everyone with a cell phone must be vigilant to avoid schemes to defraud that target victims through text messages," Totten said. "Make no mistake: The federal government does not send text messages asking for money, advising you to move money to another account, requesting that you convert cash to cryptocurrency, or proposing an exchange of money for a 'get out of jail free' letter."