Dothan, Alabama (WTVY) — Two females are facing accusations of plotting to take nearly $1.5 million from an unaware resident here. However, some people think these two might actually be the ones who were wronged.
Bao Sarah Yang, who is 30 years old and hails from Minnesota, is facing charges including two counts of Aggravated Theft through Deception and one count of Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Theft.
On Wednesday, she reported herself to the Dothan police, accompanied by her lawyer.
The charging papers claim that Yang illicitly transferred $1,421,290, characterized by investigators as stolen money, to an account linked with Dana Elizabeth Sturges from Huntsville, Alabama.
Sturges is charged with Conspiracy to Commit Aggravated Theft and was arrested in Dothan on March 18.
The victim's identity was not disclosed in the redacted arrest warrants, and WTVY typically refrains from naming individual victims of financial crimes.
Although arrest warrants do not provide specifics on how the alleged fraud operated, several unnamed individuals familiar with the situation claim that the victim thought they were settling valid bills associated with a construction endeavor.
The esteemed Birmingham lawyer William White acknowledged that he went with Yang to Dothan on Wednesday. After being taken into custody at the Houston County Jail, she was freed once she made bond through a professional surety.
WATCH: The $10 Million Swindler
White thinks Yang is a victim.
"We are collaborating with officials to thoroughly investigate this issue," he stated.
In response to White’s request, Houston County District Judge Benjamin Lewis scheduled a pretrial hearing for May 2. This hearing will probably compel the police to disclose information about their investigation and assess the robustness of their case.
Sturges' lawyers did not promptly reply to requests for comment.
Several informants acquainted with the situation indicated that additional individuals may be implicated in an apparently complex criminal operation. These sources further mentioned that law enforcement officials are striving to retrieve the misappropriated funds; however, official documents do not show any evidence of success thus far.
An examination of public records, documents, and social media profiles failed to uncover any friendships or business connections between Yang and Sturges. Their only apparent link seems to be the alleged theft of $1.5 million from a Dothan resident.
The police file charges of Aggravated Theft by Deception when the alleged stolen amount surpasses $200,000. Each count carries a potential sentence of five to 30 years behind bars.
Aggravated conspiracy to commit theft carries a penalty of two to 10 years.
At the beginning of this month, Judge Lewis updated Sturges' bond terms and allowed her to travel out-of-state for work-related reasons.
Houston County Assistant District Attorney Jarrod Blumberg did not object to the amended terms.
The records do not disclose whether Yang was permitted to go back to her residence in St. Paul.
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