Metro Detroit Woman Charged In $4.6M Child-Modeling Scheme: Feds

NEW BOSTON, MI — A Wayne County woman stole millions from a family by claiming she could improve their young daughter's modeling career, according to federal officials.

Chanise Coyne, 46, of New Boston, was charged with seven counts of wire fraud and five counts of money laundering.

"Fraud schemes that prey on the emotional bonds of families are egregious. This defendant allegedly took advantage of a family’s love for their daughter, stole their nest egg, and then gambled it away. We will pursue fraud schemes in all their forms," U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. said.

Officials said Coyne received more than $4.6 million from a family, telling them the money would be used for advance fees connected with the family’s young daughter in various modeling events across the country.

Coyne also created bogus records relating to the supposed placement of the girl in modeling events and also impersonated a third party, officials said.

Officials said Coyne never used the money to place the girl in any modeling event. Instead, they said she used the money for her own benefit, such as gambling. Investigators connected Coyne to multiple laundering transactions involving the online sports gambling platform FanDuel.

"Those who think they can scam Michigan families out of their hard-earned money need to think again. The FBI will identify you, investigate you, and arrest you," Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office Jennifer Runyan said.