SHADY Spring, West Virginia, pharmacist, Natalie Cochran, has proven herself to be somewhat shady herself, falling foul of the law.
The 39-year-old shady lady pleaded guilty to multiple charges of money laundering and wire fraud yesterday.
A US District Court heard Cochran and her late husband had conned friends and family into investing in two companies, Tactical Solutions Group and Technology Management Solutions between Jun 2017 and Aug 2019, claiming they were involved in government contracts - which it transpired they were not.
Cochran faces up to 11 years behind bars for her role in the deception, and has agreed to pay US$2.6 million in restitution to the victims of the fraud.
She will also forfeit items she purchased with her ill-gotten gains, including a 1965 Shelby Cobra, a number of other vehicles, jewellery and $45,000 from her business' bank account.
US Attorney, Mike Stuart, described the plea as "a great deal for the taxpayers", noting he would not have agreed to it if it had not delivered significant restitution for the victims.
"Eleven years and three months is a pretty sizable period of time," he said.
"Then you look at the waiving of her right of appeal, you look at the forfeiture accounts, then the $2.6 million restitution, it's pretty significant. We drove a hard bargain."
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