A major bank fraud and identity theft scheme has been uncovered, and the leader behind it, Amber Towndrow, has pleaded guilty in federal court. The fraud involved stealing personal information from victims across the country, using it to open fake business accounts, and then draining money from their real bank accounts.
Towndrow and her co-conspirator, Darby Canfield, admitted to their roles in the scheme, which affected at least 19 victims nationwide. This criminal group registered fake businesses, used stolen identities, and created fake driver’s licenses and passports to convince banks to open business accounts in the victims’ names. The scheme was widespread, covering multiple states, including Washington, Colorado, Pennsylvania, California, New Jersey, Indiana, Texas, Illinois, and even Washington D.C.
Once the fraudulent business accounts were linked to real customer accounts, Towndrow and her accomplices transferred large sums of money to themselves. They then withdrew the stolen money through debit cards, purchasing money orders, expensive designer goods, and electronics. Some of these money orders were later cashed using fake IDs at various outlets, further covering up their tracks.
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Stealing Millions, One Bank Account at a Time
This fraudulent operation involved sophisticated planning and deception. One victim, who lived in Illinois, unknowingly had a fake business registered under their name in Colorado. Towndrow then traveled to a Chase bank branch in Seattle and opened a business account using that fake business identity. After gaining access, she transferred over $131,000 from the real Illinois victim’s account into the fraudulent business account.
With the stolen money, Towndrow bought 128 U.S. Postal Service money orders worth $126,653. These money orders were then made payable to people who could use fake IDs to cash them. Many were processed at different locations in Seattle, allowing the criminals to pocket the stolen cash without raising suspicion.
Another victim, living in Texas, was tricked out of $75,000 using a similar method. Of that stolen amount, $50,000 was used to purchase MoneyGram money orders, which were later cashed throughout Seattle.
In total, Towndrow admitted to opening at least 50 fake business bank accounts, attempting to steal $1.4 million, and successfully obtaining $664,000. Towndrow and Canfield were strategic and careful, ensuring their scam remained undetected for as long as possible.
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Facing Justice for the Fraudulent Crimes
After being caught, Towndrow pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit bank fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft. These crimes come with serious penalties.
Bank fraud alone carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, while money laundering can lead to 20 years behind bars. Aggravated identity theft has a mandatory two-year sentence that must be served in addition to any other punishment. While prosecutors have agreed to recommend a prison sentence of no more than eight years, the final decision will be made by U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead during sentencing on June 12, 2025.
Authorities, including the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Diplomatic Security Service, and the Seattle Police Department, worked together to investigate this case and bring Towndrow and Canfield to justice.
This case serves as a reminder of the dangers of identity theft and bank fraud. Criminals are always looking for ways to steal personal information and money from innocent people. This fraudulent scheme highlights how important it is to monitor bank accounts, protect personal information, and be cautious of any unusual banking activity.
