Woman Swindles Supporters Of Ukraine, Immigration Services Out Of $3.5M: Feds

CHICAGO — A 40-year-old Buffalo Grove woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges alleging she defrauded multiple victims out of at least $3.5 million.

According to prosecutors, Tatiana Bazer represented to victims that their money would be used in several ways, including for projects in Ukraine, immigration services, or as loans to help resolve her purported arrest for shoplifting.

Bazer pleaded not guilty on March 19 in U.S. District Court in Chicago to seven counts of wire fraud and two counts of impersonating a federal law enforcement officer. A status hearing is scheduled for April 21.

Each wire fraud count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, while each count of impersonating a federal law enforcement officer is punishable by up to three years.

According to the indictment, some victims entrusted Bazer with hundreds of thousands of dollars. It also alleges that she spent much of the money in ways other than what she had represented, including for her own personal use.

Prosecutors say Bazer concealed the alleged fraud by sending victims false records, including bogus wire transfer receipts and fraudulent checks. The indictment also alleges that after learning federal law enforcement was investigating her fraud scheme, she pretended to be FBI agents, a prosecutor, and a criminal defense attorney to lull victims into believing that her case would be resolved and that they would receive their money back.

The FBI is asking anyone who may have been a victim of fraud allegedly committed by Bazer to report it by email to TBazerVictims@fbi.gov.