Seven people from around the San Antonio area have been charged in connection with an estimated $1.6 million wire fraud scheme, according to the Department of Justice.
Those charged are LeeAnn Blystone, 46, of Boerne, Blystone's ex-husband Michael J. Webb, 49, of San Antonio, Karen Lindsay, 48, of Boerne, Cheryl E. Hartsfield, 56, of Boerne, Roy E. Pokrant, 47, of Boerne, Thomas J. Worsham, 47, of Boerne, and Manson Porter, 47, or Boerne.
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According to the DOJ, Blystone, former marketing director for land development company Rinco of Texas, Inc. and Rockin 'J Ranch, with assistance from the six other defendants, all involved with either Rinco or Rockin 'J, devised and implemented a scheme to defraud Rinco, Rockin 'J, Security State Federal Credit Union and others to obtain money by means of false and fraudulent pretenses from January 2009 until August 2011.
According to the DOJ, Blystone had Rinco and Rockin 'J make checks based on numerous fraudulent third-party contractor invoices submitted, which greatly overstated the actual operating costs of promotional booths.
Blystone also had Rinco and Rockin 'J fraudulently pay the six defendants for staffing the promotional displays.
Rinco and Rockin 'J paid for services where no promotion or work was done at all, or instead benefitted Blystone and Porter at their business, HipDingo, according to the indictment.
Blystone allegedly forged the names of the payees and deposited the proceeds under her control, caused one or more of her co-defendants to give her a portion of their illegally acquired proceeds and used money from her scheme for inventory and payroll at HipDingo.
Blystone has been charged with eight counts of wire fraud, 12 counts of forged endorsements and two counts of witness tampering.
Porter is charged with three counts of wire fraud and two counts of witness tampering.
The remaining defendants are each charged with three counts of wire fraud.