The person at the center of this case
Banc of California and other financial institutions
Cold Case · Open
7 years waiting · since 2018
MARY CAROLE MCDONNELL
Justice for Banc of California and other financial institutions — the trail went cold in 2018, but the truth hasn't.
Start here
Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1Why did McDonnell falsely claim to be a McDonnell Aircraft Family heir, and how did she develop this cover story?
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evidence
Lead #2What specific fraudulent documents and false identities were used to obtain the $30 million from multiple financial institutions?
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location
Lead #3What is McDonnell's current status and location in Dubai, and does she have accomplices assisting her?
Mary Carole McDonnell is wanted for an elaborate bank fraud scheme that defrauded Banc of California and other financial institutions of approximately $30 million between July 2017 and May 2018. She falsely claimed to be an heir to the McDonnell Aircraft Family with access to an $80 million secret trust to facilitate the fraudulent scheme. McDonnell was federally charged on December 12, 2018, and is believed to be hiding in Dubai, making her recovery and prosecution critical to financial crime enforcement.
Case
#1097
United States District Court, Central District of California; FBI
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
💡
clue
Lead #4How did McDonnell maintain the fraud for nearly a year without detection, and what banking procedures failed?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft Caution: Mary Carole McDonnell is wanted for her alleged involvement in a fraud scheme in Los Angeles and Orange Counties in California. Beginning in approximately July of 2017, and continuing to May of 2018, McDonnell is alleged to have knowingly, and with the intent to defraud, devised and participated in a scheme to obtain money, funds, assets, and property owned by Banc of California.
Through this scheme, McDonnell allegedly and fraudulently obtained a total of approximately $14.7 million from the bank to which she knew she was not entitled and has not paid back. It is alleged that McDonnell also defrauded additional financial institutions in a similar fashion, with an estimated loss of over $15 million.
McDonnell falsely claims to be an heir to the McDonnell Aircraft Family, with an $80 million secret trust to which she will have access. On December 12, 2018, a federal arrest warrant was issued for McDonnell in the United States District Court, Central District of California, Santa Ana, California, after she was charged with Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft.
It is believed McDonnell is currently in Dubai. Remarks: McDonnell has ties to Los Angeles, California; Montgomery, Alabama; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Timeline of Events
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2017-07-01
Fraud scheme begins
McDonnell begins fraudulent scheme against Banc of California and other financial institutions
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2018-05-31
Fraud scheme ends
Fraudulent activity ceases after approximately $30 million obtained
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2018-12-12
Federal arrest warrant issued
Warrant issued in United States District Court, Central District of California for Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:July 1, 2017
Last Updated:April 29, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:July 1, 2017
Last Updated:April 29, 2026