Fraud Friday: Bookkeeper Wife Gets 3 Years for Helping Husband’s Loan Fraud Scheme
A woman is going to jail for covering the crimes of her husband. Brandi Dukes plead guilty in court this week to trying to conceal her husband’s bank fraud scheme. Her husband pleaded guilty in November to fraud that resulted in the loss of some $2 million.
Brandi was the bookkeeper for her husband’s Dukes Auto Repair in Higginsville, Missouri. Her husband Clint falsely claimed to have car repair contracts with the state of Missouri, submitting fraudulent invoices and financial disclosure statements to the banks in order to receive about $2.8 million in loans. Brandi admitted to learning of her husband’s fraud scheme in 2010 and concealing it by filing false documents.
“Brandi Dukes was fully aware of her husband’s fraud, which cost three banks more than $2 million, was bookkeeper for her husband’s business and helped conceal the crime,” Special Inspector General for TARP Christy Romero said. Brandi faces up to 3 years in prison without parole, while Clint could spend up to 30 years in federal prison without parole, plus restitution.