Michigan woman claimed to be heir to famous aircraft family. What she did next has the FBI searching the globe

A 73-year-old woman from Michigan is now a fugitive after allegedly orchestrating a massive fraud scheme that scammed nearly $30 million from banks and financial institutions in California. According to the FBI, the suspect, Mary Carole McDonnell, may currently be hiding in Dubai as investigators work to track her down.

According to People, McDonnell is wanted for a series of fraudulent acts committed across Los Angeles County and Orange County between July 2017 and May 2018. During that period, she allegedly posed as an heir to the “McDonnell Aircraft Family,” claiming she had access to a secret $80 million trust. Investigators say this story was entirely fabricated and used to gain credibility with lenders.

The FBI reports that McDonnell relied on this elaborate lie to secure large sums of money from multiple financial institutions. One of the biggest losses came from the Banc of California, which McDonnell allegedly defrauded of approximately $14.7 million. Officials say she knowingly obtained funds she was never entitled to and failed to repay any of the money.

The fraud scheme targeted multiple banks across California

McDonnell also scammed other financial institutions in a similar way, stealing over $15 million from them. In total, her alleged fraud adds up to nearly $30 million.

On December 12, 2018, a federal arrest warrant was issued for McDonnell. She faces charges of Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft. The warrant was issued by the U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, California. The McDonnell family name is famous in aviation history, though recent aviation incidents have raised safety concerns.

McDonnell is described as a blonde woman who weighs 145 pounds and stands 5’7″ tall. She has a scar on her right knee. She also has ties to Montgomery, Alabama.

Before disappearing, McDonnell served as the CEO of Bellum Entertainment LLC, a production company based in Burbank. The company made shows like I Married a Murderer and It Takes a Killer but is now defunct. While some aviation emergencies end in survival, McDonnell’s alleged victims weren’t as fortunate in recovering their money.

The entertainment company was investigated by the California Labor Commission in 2017 for allegedly not paying wages to dozens of former workers. Anyone with information about McDonnell’s whereabouts should contact their nearest FBI field office, American embassy, or consulate. Anonymous tips can also be submitted on the FBI’s website.