Woman Faked Death in Cross-Country Luxury Vehicle Fraud Scheme

NEWPORT NEWS, Virginia, Feb. 12 -- The Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Tracy Doherty-McCormick, issued the following news release:

A Portsmouth woman who faked her own death in connection with an elaborate bank fraud scheme was sentenced today to four years in prison.

According to court documents, Alexandra Hatcher, 50, conspired with her husband, Albert Hatcher Jr., 49, 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. Albert Hatcher was sentenced to four years in prison on January 22 for his role in the scheme.

Tracy Doherty-McCormick, Acting 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 sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge Robert G. Doumar. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin C. Gratton prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:17-cr-48.