A federal indictment says a New Boston, Michigan woman allegedly took more than $4.6 million from a family by promising child modeling placements and then spent the money on personal expenses, including significant gambling, leading to charges of wire fraud and money laundering.
The FBI arrested Chanise Coyne, 46, after an investigation into a scheme that targeted a family seeking modeling opportunities for their young daughter. Federal prosecutors returned an indictment charging Coyne with seven counts of wire fraud and five counts of money laundering in connection with the alleged plot.
According to the indictment, Coyne convinced a family to provide advance fees for national modeling events by creating fake documents and false placement records. The complaint also alleges she impersonated a third party to bolster the scheme, presenting fabricated evidence that the child had been placed in events across the country.
Prosecutors say more than $4.6 million was obtained under those false pretenses and that the funds were not used to place the child in a single modeling event. Instead, the indictment contends the money was diverted for Coyne’s own benefit, depriving the family of their savings and leaving a trail of fraudulent transactions.
“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,” stated U.S. Attorney Gorgon.
The charging documents further allege Coyne funneled proceeds through a variety of accounts and transactions, with significant gambling expenditures tied to online sports wagering. Investigators flagged multiple money laundering transactions linked to the FanDuel platform as part of the alleged pattern of spending.
Those allegations paint a picture of a scheme that combined emotional manipulation with financial deception, using fake paperwork and false promises to convert parental hopes into cash. Federal agents say the alleged conduct continued long enough for the sums involved to reach into the millions, prompting a full criminal prosecution.
“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,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “The defendant allegedly participated in a fraud scheme designed to deprive a family of millions of dollars under the false pretense that the funds would be used for their daughter’s future career. FBI Detroit will always work to protect Michigan families from these schemes and will disrupt those who exploit our citizens and betray their trust.”
Gorgon was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan, Federal Bureau of Investigation. The public statements stress that the case involved manipulation of trust and exploitation of a family’s investment in a child’s future.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Yahkind. Prosecutors will present the government’s case in court as the legal process moves forward and the defendant exercises her right to a defense.
