Baton Rouge Woman Faces Arrest for Scam Tied to Casino Money Laundering

Baton Rouge officials claim a 27-year-old woman ran a plot to steal over $100,000 from a nearby credit union before trying to launder the money through L’Auberge Casino.

Officials Connect Baton Rouge Resident to Credit Union Swindle and Casino Winnings

The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office reports that they arrested Ashana K. Webb this week. She faces charges of bank fraud, theft exceeding $25,000, and unlawful money transfers. Detectives believe Webb led a phishing scam that started in early May, going after Neighbors Federal Credit Union members, reported The Advocate.

Legal documents reveal the inner workings of the scam. Credit union members got strange texts asking them to check unfamiliar purchases. People who answered then heard from someone saying they worked for the credit union’s fraud team. The scammers told victims to give up their online banking login information and said their accounts would be frozen for a bit to look things over. A few days later, many people found their accounts empty.

Police connected the crimes to Webb by examining financial records. On May 2, she reportedly started two accounts at Neighbors FCU using fake personal details. Security video proved it was her, police said. In just a day, someone put $10,000 into the new accounts. That money moved to accounts Webb had set up at L’Auberge Casino.

On May 4, casino cameras caught Webb getting cash from a worker, directly tying her to the stolen funds, according to police.

Credit Union Alerts Members as Fraud Case Could Result in Long Prison Sentence

Neighbors FCU has reported total losses of $158,440 across multiple accounts. Webb stands accused of taking $106,000 from one member’s account. Law enforcement thinks a larger operation involved several criminals, suggesting an organized fraud group.

If found guilty, Webb could face harsh punishments under Louisiana law. The charges together could result in up to 40 years in prison and fines over $250,000.

Following this event, Neighbors FCU has again warned about fake texts and calls. The credit union has stressed that it never asks for login details, passwords, or PINs over the phone or by text.

The sheriff’s office is still looking into whether other people played a part in the scam. At the same time, this case reminds account owners to keep an eye out for phishing tricks that take advantage of their trust in banks and other money-related companies.