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[CRIME] · United States · 9 sources

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Part of situation: US federal fraud sentencing developments (2 clusters)

Michigan and California women sentenced in multi-million dollar fraud cases

wire fraud child modeling scam cryptocurrency crime tax evasion federal prison sentences

In separate federal cases, two women have been sentenced for major financial fraud schemes in the United States.

Chanise Coyne, 46, of New Boston, Michigan, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for orchestrating a $4.6 million child modeling fraud scheme. Coyne deceived a local family by promising that funds would cover advance fees for their daughter’s modeling opportunities across the country. Instead, she used fabricated emails, texts, and invoices to sustain the con, diverting the money toward gambling and spending over $200,000 on Taylor Swift concert tickets. She was ordered to pay $4.6 million in restitution.

Iris Rabaya Au, 37, of Irvine, California, received an 18-month prison sentence for failing to report more than $2.6 million in income tied to a cryptocurrency-related criminal enterprise. Au, the former partner of Adam Iza (known as ‘The Godfather’), helped facilitate the movement of illicit funds. The scheme involved creating shell companies and using approximately $1 million to pay corrupt Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies. Au was also ordered to pay $1.48 million in restitution and forfeit various luxury assets, including vehicles and designer handbags.

Entities

Adam Iza · Chanise Coyne · FBI · Iris Rabaya Au · Iris Ramaya Au · Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department · Meta Platforms Inc. · U.S. Attorney’s Office · U.S. Department of Justice

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

  • [● 2 SOURCES] Adam Iza is currently serving a 15-year prison sentence for an attempted Bitcoin robbery and kidnapping in Connecticut. www.independent.co.uk
  • [● 2 SOURCES] Adam Iza pleaded guilty in January 2025 to federal conspiracy, wire fraud, and tax evasion charges. www.independent.co.uk
  • [● 2 SOURCES] Iris Ramaya Au pleaded guilty in March 2025 to submitting a false tax return. www.independent.co.uk
  • [● 2 SOURCES] Illicit funds were used for $10 million in luxury goods and recreation and $16 million in cryptocurrency purchases for Adam Iza. www.independent.co.uk
  • [● 2 SOURCES] Au created shell corporations and opened bank accounts at the direction of Adam Iza. www.independent.co.uk
  • [● 2 SOURCES] Iris Ramaya Au transferred more than $2.6 million from shell corporation accounts to her personal accounts between 2020 and 2023 without reporting it to the IRS. www.independent.co.uk
  • [● 2 SOURCES] Approximately $1 million in illicit funds was used to pay former Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies. www.independent.co.uk

Sources

Photographer scammed family out of $4. 6M in child modeling fraud scheme, blew it on gambling, $200K Taylor Swift tickets [offthepress.com]
Photographer Scammed Family Out of $4. 6M in Child Modeling Scheme and Blew It on Gambling and $200K Taylor Swift Tickets [pulptastic.com]
Michigan woman duped family out of millions in child modeling fraud scheme [www.fox2detroit.com]
Irvine woman sentenced for hiding $2. 6M in illegal crypto‑related income [newsantaana.com]
California Woman Sentenced Over $2. 6M Crypto Crime Proceeds [www.coincu.com]
Crypto 'Godfather' ex-girlfriend jailed for 18 months over $2. 6M she hid from the IRS [www.cryptopolitan.com]
Ex-Girlfriend of Crypto Schemer Sentenced to Prison for Hiding $2. 6M from IRS [mynewsla.com]
Love Island winner's girlfriend is jailed for $2. 6m tax fraud [www.dailymail.com]
Crypto ‘Godfather’s’ ex faces prison after hiding $2. 6m from IRS [www.independent.co.uk]