Maryland Couple Sentenced for $20M Fraud Scheme

James and Maureen Wilson of Owings Mills, Maryland, were sentenced to a combined 16 years in prison for a 25-year insurance fraud and money laundering scheme that defrauded life insurance companies and individual investors of over $20 million. The Wilsons used false information, forged signatures, and impersonation to secure more than 40 fraudulent life insurance policies, and failed to report millions in illegal income on their 2018 and 2019 tax returns. James, a former insurance broker, received a 12-year sentence while Maureen was sentenced to four years; both must serve three years of probation after release. They were ordered to pay restitution totaling up to $18.7 million and to forfeit nearly $14.8 million in seized assets. The case underscores increasing financial crimes in Maryland, including elder and visa fraud. FBI data shows elder fraud losses in Maryland surpassed $80 million in 2024, with cases rising 14% from 2023.