Home St. Louis Press Releases 2011 Owner of Utah Fertility Business Indicted on Fraud Charges
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Owner of Utah Fertility Business Indicted on Fraud Charges

U.S. Attorney’s Office February 04, 2011
  • Eastern District of Missouri

ST. LOUIS, MO—The United States Attorney's Office announced today that the owner of a Utah egg donation operation has been indicted on multiple charges of fraud involving her non-payment to egg donors.

Janae Helgerson was arrested on the St. Louis indictment in Idaho late yesterday and is expected to appear before a federal judge in Boise, Idaho, before traveling to St. Louis to answer the charges.

According to the indictment, Janae Helgerson owned and operated Mid-West Egg Donation to match couples seeking to conceive a baby with women who were willing to donate eggs to these couples. Midwest Egg allegedly told prospective clients who wanted to receive eggs that the agency was paid a fee for its services and that the donors were paid compensation of at least $4,000. Midwest Egg represented a number of clients to obtain eggs from donors and accepted payments from those clients to cover both its agency fee, compensation for the donor, and other expenses, including travel expenses incurred by donors. Numerous donors were in the St. Louis area and elsewhere. The indictment alleges that between 2006 and 2010, Helgerson agreed with client donors to pay them between $4,000 and $5,000. When she failed to pay them, she made multiple excuses, claiming the need for more forms, bank errors, etc. She also allegedly told them that their funds would be held in escrow, when she actually had used them for her own expenses. She lied to law enforcement investigators when questioned about the non-payments to donors.

JANAE HELGERSON, Boise, ID, was indicted be a federal grand jury on three felony counts of wire fraud and three felony counts of making false statements.

If convicted, each count of wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000. Each count of making a false statement carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Tom Albus is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney's Office.

As is always the case, charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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