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Hot Springs Woman Accused In Multi-Million Dollar Scheme

Courtesy: Chuck Smith / Red River Radio News

MEGA SCAM - Arkansas's attorney general is accusing a Hot Springs woman of taking part in a multi-million dollar scheme to defraud people by falsely telling them they had won a jackpot or lottery.  Yesterday, Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced her department  is  sueing  73-year-old Jean Butler, who Rutledge said acted as a "money mule" and received money from victims of the scheme.

"Miss Butler engaged in prohibitive conduct by knowingly acting in concert with operators of the scheme,"Rutledge explained.  "Misrepresenting that consumers had won a substantial cash prize and that they must pay taxes or other such fees to the defendant, in advance to receiving a substantial cash prize."

Credit Courtesy: Ark Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, Facebook
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Courtesy: Ark Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, Facebook
Leslie Rutlege, Attorney General for the state of Arkansas.

Butler  told  investigators she had been working for a Las Vegas company called: “Mega Millions” and that she had not been benefitting from the scheme.   Investigators believe Butler opened numerous bank accounts to facilitate the transfer of about $6 million to the scheme operators in Jamaica.  . The attorney general’s office was contacted by one of roughly 50 victims from across the United States and Canada  who  had  sent  Butler  money  after being notified they had won a prize from “Mega Millions”.  The lawsuit seeks restitution for consumers, an injunction against Butler and civil penalties, which can be assessed at up to $10,000 per violation under the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

Chuck Smith brings more than 30 years' broadcast and media experience to Red River Radio. He began his career as a radio news reporter and transitioned to television journalism and newsmagazine production. Chuck studied mass communications at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia and motion picture / television production at the University of California at Los Angeles. He has also taught writing for television at York Technical College in Rock Hill, South Carolina and video / film production at Centenary College of Louisiana, Shreveport.