GREEN BAY, Wis. — Two defendants have been sentenced to prison after becoming the first of 17 people charged in a large-scale fraud scheme that authorities say defrauded Fox Communities Credit Union of nearly $200,000.
Shayne Rudolph, 51, of Green Bay, and Leona Dixon, 42, of Keshena, were each sentenced to two years in prison after being convicted in the case, according to court records cited by the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Prosecutors have charged 17 suspects in connection with the scheme, all of whom face similar counts of fraud against a financial institution and money laundering.
Dixon, the second defendant to be convicted, pleaded no contest Nov. 21 to one count of fraud against a financial institution and one count of money laundering. She represented herself in court, including at her Jan. 26 sentencing, where Brown County Circuit Judge John Zakowski credited her for moving the case forward quickly, according to the Press Gazette.
At sentencing, Dixon said she was “very disappointed” in herself and attributed her conduct to substance use. “I don’t place blame on anyone but myself,” the Press Gazette quoted her as saying. She added that she intends to use her time in prison constructively.
Sentences to Run Concurrently
Zakowski sentenced Dixon to two years in prison followed by two years of extended supervision for the fraud convictions. That sentence will run concurrently with an 11-year prison term and 11 years of extended supervision imposed the same day after Dixon pleaded no contest to manufacturing and delivering more than 50 grams of fentanyl, the Press Gazette reported.
Assistant District Attorney Robert Maniak said Dixon was considered a midlevel distributor in a larger drug trafficking organization. She was also ordered to pay restitution to Fox Communities Credit Union, though the amount was not set.
No Contest Plea
Rudolph was the first defendant convicted in the case. He pleaded no contest May 23 to one count of fraud against a financial institution and one count of money laundering involving $5,000 to $10,000. Zakowski sentenced him to two years in prison followed by two years of extended supervision.
How Scheme Worked
Investigators said the scheme involved impersonating credit union fraud staff and tricking members into providing login credentials and verification codes. Once access was gained, money was transferred into accounts controlled by suspects known as “money mules,” who quickly withdrew or moved the funds before passing most of the money to others in the criminal operation.
According to court filings, Rudolph and Dixon each acted as money mules in multiple fraudulent transactions tied to Fox Communities Credit Union, the Press Gazette said.
