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A federal court jury in Kansas City on Thursday found 43-year-old Freya Pearson guilty of tax evasion and defrauding a local lottery winner out of more than $440,000.
From the Kansas City Star:
The 61-year-old victim of Pearson’s fraud scheme won $2.4 million in the Missouri Lottery in 2008. The woman used the money to buy a new home for herself, a new home for a daughter and a car for another daughter. Then she set up an annuity to provide about $30,000 a year for herself. That’s when Pearson befriended her, according to trial testimony, and claimed to be a financial adviser.
Pearson, who now lives in Georgia, persuaded the woman to transfer money to the bank account of a supposed nonprofit she had set up.
According to court testimony, Pearson gambled much of the money away.
A sentencing hearing has not been scheduled.
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
