Jessica Russell, 42, of Barre, Vermont, pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud on January 17, 2025, in a case involving the defrauding of an elderly Vermont resident out of more than $84,000. The plea was entered before Chief United States District Judge Christina Reiss in the District of Vermont.
According to court records, Russell exploited the vulnerability of an elderly woman who had recently lost her son. By fostering a relationship with the victim, referring to her as “mom,” and falsely claiming to have lost a child herself, Russell gained the victim’s trust and eventually obtained power of attorney. However, the legal authorization granted to Russell only allowed her to make decisions that the victim would have made herself if she were able.
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As the victim’s health and mental state declined, Russell opened a joint checking account with her, which was funded with over $132,000 from the sale of the victim’s home. Prosecutors say Russell used a substantial portion of those funds—$68,000—to purchase a house in Barton, Vermont, which she fraudulently put in her own name, claiming to others that she had bought it with her own money or inherited it. Additionally, she spent over $16,000 to acquire a 2017 Mitsubishi SUV, which was also registered under her name.
Authorities revealed that as recently as last year, Russell contacted a car dealership to arrange repairs on the SUV, continuing to represent it as her own.
The sentencing hearing for Russell has been scheduled for June 12, 2025, in Burlington, Vermont. She faces potential penalties, including prison time, fines, and restitution payments to the victim.
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United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the efforts of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Vermont State Police for their collaborative work in uncovering the fraud and bringing Russell to justice.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Colin Owyang is prosecuting the case, while Russell is being represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Sara Puls.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office urges the public to remain vigilant against financial scams targeting elderly individuals and to report suspected fraud to local authorities or the National Elder Fraud Hotline.
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