Woman Faked Death As Part Of Cross-Country Luxury Vehicle Fraud Scheme

U.S. Attorney's Office

Eastern District of Virginia

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Woman Faked Death As Part of Cross-Country Luxury Vehicle Fraud Scheme

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - A Portsmouth woman who faked her own death in connection with an elaborate bank fraud scheme pleaded guilty today to conspiracy and fraud charges.

According to court documents, Alexandra Hatcher, 49, conspired with her husband, Albert Hatcher Jr., to collect on life insurance policies the two had obtained to insure Hatcher's life. After traveling to Washington state and changing her legal name in August 2015, Hatcher and her husband submitted false death claims on at least two of these policies. In support of these claims, Hatcher created fake death certificates and published a death notice in the Daily Press. After insurers denied their claims, Hatcher and her husband undertook a cross-country fraud scheme through which they fraudulently obtained at least 20 new and newer-used luxury vehicles by presenting worthless and counterfeit checks and forged documents to car dealerships in several states. Hatcher and her husband retitled these vehicles and then used them as collateral for loans and other vehicles. The two also resold vehicles to other dealerships for cash. Hatcher used the legal name she adopted just prior to faking her death to purchase, title, and resell vehicles in furtherance of the scheme.

The Hatcher's each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, possessing and uttering a counterfeit security of an organization, and conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Each faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison when sentenced. Alexandra Hatcher will be sentenced on Feb. 12, 2018. Albert Hatcher will be sentenced on Jan. 22, 2018. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Robert B. Wemyss, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after Senior U.S. District Judge Robert G. Doumar accepted the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin C. Gratton is prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney's DOJ - USAOVirginia.Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court (http://www.vaed.uscourts.gov/) for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER (https://pcl.uscourts.gov/) by searching for Case No. 4:17-cr-48.

Topic(s):

Financial Fraud

Component(s):

USAO - Virginia, Eastern (http://www.justice.gov/usao-edva)

Contact:

Joshua Stueve Director of Communications [email protected]

Updated October 31, 2017