A Michigan photographer has been sentenced to five years in prison for conning a family out of nearly $5 million under the guise of building their child's modeling career. In reality, she was using the cash to buy Taylor Swift tickets and to fuel her gambling addiction.
Videos by Wide Open Country
Chanise Coyne, 46, was sentenced in U.S. District Court on Tuesday, Sept. 22, after pleading guilty in May to wire fraud, admitting she lied to the parents about how their $4.6 million would be used.
Court records indicate the disgraced photographer claimed the money would pay advance fees for their daughter to participate in modeling events across the country, for companies like Nike and American Girl.
Coyne allegedly fabricated records — including text messages, emails and invoices — as part of the scheme.
Prosecutors said that the family's daughter was never placed in a single competition. Furthermore, Coyne used the funds to endorse a lifestyle that included Caribbean cruises, Taylor Swift concerts and heavy gambling.
Photographer Scams Family Out of Millions of Dollars
According to the US Attorney's Office, the photographer spent over $200,000 on Taylor Swift tickets.
"Chanise Coyne did more than steal millions of dollars. She preyed on the deepest hopes of a family devoted to their child," Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Yahkind wrote in a sentencing memo. "She pushed a local family to drain their savings and left them with unimaginable financial and emotional devastation."
US Attorney Gorgon added, "Coyne used a child's aspirations as a smokescreen for a multimillion?'dollar fraud against a family. And when you prey on families, you will pay for it."
She was sentenced to five years behind bars in federal prison and ordered to pay $4.6 million in restitution.
"This was not a mistake or a momentary lapse in judgment. This was a calculated, multi-million-dollar fraud scheme that preyed on a family's trust and a child's aspirations for personal financial gain," said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office.
"Those who build their lifestyle on lies, deception, and stolen money should expect serious consequences. FBI Detroit will continue aggressively pursuing fraudsters who target Michigan families," Runyan concluded.
Coyne is required to serve three years on supervised release after her prison sentence ends.
