Fla. U.S. Attorney: Georgia Woman Convicted for Role in International Conspiracy to Launder Proceeds of 'Boiler Room' Fraud

Targeted News Service (Press Releases)

TAMPA, Florida, Nov. 23 -- The U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, Roger B. Handberg, issued the following news release:

United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that a federal jury has found Rachael Maia Winslow (55, Roswell, Georgia) guilty of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Winslow faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. Her sentencing hearing will be set at a later date. Winslow was indicted on May 20, 2020.

According to the testimony and evidence presented at trial, Winslow was a member of an international conspiracy to launder funds generated via boiler room fraud. The boiler rooms sold foreign victims what they were led to believe were legitimate investments, such as shares or stock in reputable companies such as Facebook, Chesapeake Energy, or Toys R Us. In fact, the investments were worthless, and the boiler rooms defrauded victims of over $14 million dollars, at least $4.7 million of which passed through accounts controlled by Winslow.

Winslow formed shell companies in various states, and then opened bank accounts in the names of those shell companies for the purpose of receiving fraud proceeds from victim-investors. Fraud proceeds were then wired back overseas and used to pay expenses and boiler room workers and otherwise perpetuate the scheme. Fraud proceeds were also wired to accounts controlled by coconspirators in the money laundering operation in the United States and overseas, including to Winslow's overseas accounts, to compensate them for their roles in the conspiracy and otherwise for their personal enrichment. Winslow participated in this scheme while living in Barcelona, Spain, and in Miami, Florida.

The testimony and evidence presented at trial also proved that certain assets the United States is forfeiting from the defendant, specifically, $525,595.62 seized from an account in the name of Guardian Holdings, LLC, and $222,013.19 seized from an account in the name of First Assured Contact, LLC, are traceable proceeds of the offense.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Rachelle DesVaux Bedke and David W.A. Chee.