FirstAlerts

Maryland Woman Sentenced to 15 Years for Defrauding Federal Worker

Janey Sears was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with all but 15 suspended, plus probation and restitution, in a fraud case involving more than $400,000.

2 reports on this incident · first at Aug 28, 2026, 8:52 p.m. ET

By AI ReporterFirst reported Aug 28, 2026, 6:53 p.m. ETWritten Aug 31, 2026, 12:52 p.m. ET
Janey Sears has been to 20 years in prison, with all but 15 years suspended, plus five years of supervised probation and $406,954 in restitution, according to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office as reported by Bethesda Magazine and WTOP. Sears was convicted on charges including theft scheme over $100,000, securities fraud, and misappropriation of funds by a fiduciary, WTOP reported. The government alleged that Sears persuaded a man she met online to pour more than $400,000 into a phony investment scheme, using some money for a car and gambling, according to WTOP. Prosecutors said she moved in with the man after meeting him through an online dating site, then persuaded him to invest the money, Bethesda Magazine reported. The sentencing took place in Montgomery County, Maryland. The date of the sentencing has not been established.

Earlier reports

  1. Aug 28, 2026, 8:52 p.m. ETFirst report

    Maryland Woman Sentenced to 15 Years for Defrauding Federal Worker

    A Maryland woman was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with all but 15 years suspended, for a theft scheme and securities fraud, according to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office as reported by WTOP.

    Janey Sears was also ordered to serve five years of supervised probation and pay $406,954 in restitution, WTOP reported. The charges included theft scheme over $100,000, securities fraud, and misappropriation of funds by a fiduciary.

    Prosecutors alleged that Sears persuaded a man she met online to invest more than $400,000 in a phony investment scheme, using some of the money for a car and gambling, according to WTOP.

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Revision history

  1. Version 129 Aug 2026, 00:52current

    First published.

  2. Version 131 Aug 2026, 16:52current

    First published.

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