Mt. Vernon woman pleads guilty following wire fraud

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — A Lawrence County woman has pleaded guilty following a wire fraud conspiracy in 2022.

According to a United States Department of Justice press release, Amy Young, 42, of Mt. Vernon, has pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud.

The plea agreement says that Young conspired with others in purchasing Missouri lottery tickets using stolen fraudulent credit cards and credit card numbers at a Phillips 66 Fuel Station between July and August 2022 in Joplin.

The fraudulent transactions totaled $62,082.50 by Young and her co-conspirators, which included the purchase of Missouri lottery tickets.

The group would send people to collect the cash prizes associated with the tickets.

Young and the perpetrators claimed $54,248 in cash prizes from the Missouri Lottery Commission. The fraudulent cash prizes and credit card transcations all together totaled $116,330.50.

Young conspired with Larry Green, 56, who pleaded guilty on April 15, 2024, and is awaiting sentencing.

Young and Green are subject to sentences of up to 20 years in federal prison without parole and a maximum fine of $250,000 for each count under federal statutes.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Joplin Police Department and the Springfield Police Department.