Last of Three Defendants Sentenced for Fraudulent “Money Cleansing” Scheme

Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and John V. Gilles, special agent in charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Miami Field Office, announced today’s sentencing of defendant Olivia Evans. At today’s hearing, U.S. District Judge William P. Dimitrouleas sentenced Evans to 15 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.

Two co-defendants were previously sentenced. On November 29, 2011, co-defendant Pollie Evans was sentenced to 41 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Co-defendant Bridgette Evans was sentenced on December 6, 2011 to 37 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. The court ordered all defendants to pay restitution.

The Evanses participated in a scheme in which they fraudulently induced victims to send them money to be “cleansed” of evil spirits. The defendants represented to the victims that they would return all their monies “cleansed” of evil spirits in exchange for a small service fee. In fact, however, the defendants kept the victims’ monies for themselves. Bridgette and Olivia Evans also induced victims to send them Rolex watches with the promise that the watches would be returned. Two Rolex watches were recovered by the government.

U.S. Attorney Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the FBI for their work on this case. Ferrer also thanked the Royal Anguilla Police Force for their assistance. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Keene.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.