Vasana Montgomery Arrested in Multi-State Financial Fraud Investigation
COLUMBIA, SC — September 21, 2024 — Federal authorities have arrested 34-year-old Vasana Montgomery in connection with an alleged multi-state financial fraud scheme, according to a statement released by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina.
What: Montgomery faces charges of wire fraud, identity theft, and money laundering, involving a reported series of transactions that defrauded at least two dozen victims across four states, with losses estimated at over 2.5 million dollars.
When: Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed the arrest warrant at a private residence in Columbia, South Carolina, at approximately 6:30 AM local time on September 20, 2024.
Where: The alleged scheme operated out of a purported real estate investment firm based in Charleston, South Carolina, with additional complaints filed from victims in Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
Who: The suspect, Vasana Montgomery, is a licensed real estate agent who authorities claim used forged documents to secure fraudulent loans and misappropriate down payments from clients.
Why: Investigators allege Montgomery created shell companies to divert funds meant for property purchases, promising high returns to investors while diverting capital for personal expenditures.
Montgomery is currently held without bond pending a preliminary hearing scheduled for September 25, 2024, at the Matthew J. Perry Jr. Federal Courthouse in Columbia.