VAN ZANDT COUNTY, Texas — An East Texas woman was sentenced nearly two years in federal prison and ordered to pay over $47,000 for defrauding an elderly Plano man.
Lisa Lynn Smith, 62, of Wills Point, pleaded guilty to wire fraud on Thursday in federal court. She was then sentenced to 20 months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution totaling $47,236.94 to the victim.
Court information showed Smith used a scheme to defraud an elderly Plano man out of money by lying when she said she was facing urgent personal and family expenses. She also convinced the victim she was going to get a lawsuit settlement for over $2.5 million, which she claimed she would use to pay the victim back.
The man gave Smith funds in different ways, including by giving Smith access to his credit card. She used his credit card for repeatedly renting cars for her family members, the information stated.
Smith's lawsuit paid nothing close to the amount she claimed it would be. Smith used the money for personal and family expenses that she didn't tell the victim about, according to the information.
Anyone who knows someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).