YAKIMA, Wa. – On February 7, 2024, a federal grand jury for the Eastern District of Washington returned an indictment charging Charmmorro Vijay Strothers with one count of Wire Fraud and one count of False Personation of an Officer or Employee of the United States.
The indictment alleged that on August 13, 2023, Strothers rented a car at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and drove to Yakima, Washington. Two days later, on August 15, Strothers’ co-schemer called the victim, told her she was speaking with law enforcement, and that she had an active warrant for her arrest. The co-schemer then told the victim that to avoid arrest, she needed to drive to Egley’s Bail Bonds in Yakima and pay a bond of $14,000. The co-schemer remained on the phone with the victim, while she withdrew $14,000 from her bank account and traveled to a parking lot across from Egley’s Bail Bonds.
When the victim arrived, Strothers allegedly approached, collected the cash, and gave the victim a handwritten receipt indicating it was from Egley’s Bail Bonds and listing a fraudulent case number.
A short time later, the co-schemer called the victim a second time and told her a felony warrant was issued for her arrest. Again, the victim was told, to avoid arrest, she needed to drive to the parking lot near Egley’s Bail Bonds and pay a bond of $25,000. When the victim again arrived, Strothers collected the additional $25,000 payment. Strothers falsely told the victim he could not provide identification information, such as a badge number, because he was United States Marshal.
“Impersonating a law enforcement officer and using the threat of arrest to commit fraud is an affront to our justice system and the men and women in law enforcement who work to keep our communities safe,” said United States Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref. “My office is committed to stopping all fraudsters, no matter the shape or scope of their schemes.”
This case is being investigated by the United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Pratten is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
A video statement from U.S. Attorney Waldref can be found here
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Case: 1:24-cr-02006-SAB
