Fighting Financial Crimes in King County — A Spotlight on Scams, Fraud, and Embezzlement Prosecution
At the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, we take financial crimes extremely seriously. The Economic Crimes & Wage Theft Division, created by King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion in 2023, represents a focused and unified effort to combat scams, fraud, and embezzlement that harm people in our community.
Earlier this month, prosecutors who specialize in Complex Financial Crimes gave an update to the media on their work on scams, fraud and embezzlement cases in King County.
Here’s an inside look at how we tackle these complex crimes and tips to protect yourself.
A Division Committed to Justice for Financial Crimes
The creation of the Economic Crimes & Wage Theft Division reorganized how we address financial crimes, including complex fraud, embezzlement, wage theft, and more. This division houses three key units:
- Complex Financial Crimes & Wage Theft Unit
- Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Unit
- Economic Crimes Unit
Our team of experienced prosecutors ensures accountability for those exploiting trust, stealing resources, and defrauding others.
Complex Financial Crimes: What We Prosecute
Financial crimes vary widely but often include:
- Scams: grandchild, government, romance, tech support, and many others.
- Embezzlement: Misusing employer funds for personal gain.
- Organized Crime: Trafficking stolen property or unlicensed law practices.
- Fraud Schemes: Insurance, securities, mortgage fraud, phishing, spoofing, ransomware and more.
What makes these crimes “complex”? They often involve sophisticated methods, significant monetary losses, multiple victims, or abuse of a trusted position.
Case Examples
Examples of our recent prosecutions highlight the devastating effects of these crimes and highlight why it is so important for accountability in these cases to protect consumers:
- State v. Bilal Rashid: Embezzled $370,000 from a dental practice through numerous small transactions. He spent the money on luxury items before being sentenced to 22 months in prison.
- State v. Ricardo Mejia: Defrauded immigrant families of $75,000 by promising help with immigration applications. He was sentenced to 18 months for his crimes.
- State v. Harold Murphy: Recruited individuals as unwitting “money mules” to deposit forged checks, leaving them liable for significant losses. His high-end sentence totaled 170 months.
Protect Yourself: Tips to Avoid Scams and Fraud
Financial crimes can be devastating for victims, and difficult to prove. Fraudsters use increasingly sophisticated tactics, but vigilance and consumer education are key to prevention. Here are some tips:
Email Scams
- Avoid clicking on links from unknown senders.
- Verify sender addresses, even from known contacts.
- Log in directly through official websites, not links in emails.
- Do not click on any emails promising money or prizes.
Phone Scams
- Be cautious of spoofed Caller ID names or numbers.
- Never share personal or financial information during unsolicited calls.
- Verify claims by calling the official organization.
Financial Scams
- Always confirm account details before transferring large sums.
- Legitimate entities will never demand payment in gift cards or cryptocurrency.
- Resist high-pressure tactics to pay immediately.
Resources
Financial crimes cause significant harm to victims, and timely action is critical. There is no shame in falling prey to a scam — fraudsters are sophisticated and, unfortunately, this can happen to anyone. If you or someone you know falls victim to a scam, report it immediately to local law enforcement or resources like the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), WA Dept of Financial Institutions, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
