Georgia Woman Arrested for Crypto ATM Fraud Scheme in Florida

Fraudulent Scheme Exposed

A Georgia woman has been accused of money laundering after allegedly convincing victims to deposit cash into cryptocurrency ATMs under the pretense of resolving fake arrest warrants. This alarming case has been reported by the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, revealing a scam that has reportedly affected victims for over $214,000.

The Modus Operandi

The suspect, Cartilia Leslie, age 31, is said to have impersonated Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies during phone calls with her victims. She instructed them on how to pay a “fee” to clear their supposed warrants. In one instance, a victim was coerced into depositing $7,000 at an Athena Bitcoin ATM in Boynton Beach. Once the victim's funds were transferred to Leslie's Coinbase account, she moved the money into her Wells Fargo account, and subsequently to accounts at Chase and Navy Federal Credit Union to obscure the theft.

Legal Consequences

A warrant for Leslie's arrest was issued in May, and she was apprehended recently. She faces multiple felony charges including organized fraud, criminal use of personal identification, money laundering, and grand theft. Her defense has requested a $32,500 bond as the case proceeds under the scrutiny of Broward County Circuit Judge Edward Harold Merrigan Jr..

Call for Information

Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding this case or similar scams to contact Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.