Cass County Woman Sentenced for ID Fraud

TYLER – A 55 year old Bivins, Texas, woman has been sentenced in Tyler for a criminal activity related to identity theft. LaWanda Maricle was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in prison, a term of supervised release of 3 years, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $108,101.28. She appeared yesterday before United States Judge Michael H. Schneider.

According to federal prosecutors, Maricle was the manager of Pioneer Credit Company, a loan company located in Mt. Pleasant. Maricle, along with others, devised a scheme to fraudulently create new loan applications for customers who did not have an active loan, using the customer’s name, social security number, and other identifying information. Maricle would approve the loan, issue a check in the name of the customer on Pioneer’s account, sign the check on behalf of Pioneer, and then forge the signature of the customer on the check. Maricle used the funds for her own personal gain. As a result of the fraudulent activity, the total loss or intended loss, from all relevant conduct, was at least $200,000.