Show-Me State Times

A St. Louis County woman has admitted to participating in an online fraud scheme, which defrauded victims of approximately $1 million. Shirley Waller, 43, pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud, including using an assumed name.

Waller confessed to aiding scammers who deceived their victims out of $1,068,834. Authorities were alerted by a 71-year-old victim from St. Louis County who sent $35,000 as part of a romance scam. The cash was tracked 164 times within a day by several IP addresses located in Nigeria. Investigators discovered over 70 Express Mail packages had been sent to Waller’s home over two months ending November 1, 2023. A search conducted on January 12, 2024, revealed two guns and numerous packages addressed under variations of Waller's name at her residence.

The investigation found that older adults targeted in online scams sent cash to Waller's address. She then forwarded portions of the money to Nigeria through cryptocurrency and other electronic means. Postal authorities intercepted parcels containing $41,650 en route to her home and seized packages with $17,500 stored in her safe.

Additionally, Waller admitted to applying for a Paycheck Protection Program loan fraudulently on April 10, 2021. She falsely claimed ownership of a Michigan business and used the received funds for international travel instead of business purposes. A subsequent fraudulent loan application for a resale shop was denied after she concealed prior loans and falsified income details.

Waller also acknowledged securing a $196,000 mortgage loan by misrepresenting her marital status and income while submitting fake tax documents and bank statements.

Her sentencing is scheduled for September 29; each count carries up to 20 years imprisonment or fines up to $250,000 or both. Previously in March, she was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to firearm possession as a felon.

The case is being handled by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service alongside the Town and Country Police Department and the FBI with Assistant U.S. Attorney Tracy Berry prosecuting.