FBI hunts Michigan woman accused of stealing nearly $30M while posing as aircraft heiress

California

FBI hunts Michigan woman accused of stealing nearly $30M while posing as aircraft heiress

Mary Carole McDonnell allegedly claimed access to $80M secret trust while serving as CEO of Burbank production company

Christina Shaw Fox News

Published

December 9, 2025 3:04am EST

Video

Fox News Flash top headlines for December 8

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on FoxNews.com.

NEW

You can now listen to Fox News articles!

The FBI is looking for a Michigan-born woman who allegedly orchestrated a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme in Southern California.

Investigators say that Mary Carole McDonnell, 73, is wanted on charges of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with the alleged scheme carried out in Los Angeles and Orange counties between July 2017 and May 2018, the FBI said.

"Beginning in approximately July 2017 and continuing to May of 2018, McDonnell is alleged to have knowingly, and with intent to defraud, devised and participated in a scheme to obtain money, funds, assets, and property owned by Banc of California," the FBI said.

Mary Carole McDonnell, who is accused of large-scale bank fraud

Fugitive Mary Carole McDonnell is accused of orchestrating a wide-ranging financial fraud scheme in Southern California. (FBI)

SHE HELPED NORTH KOREA INFILTRATE AMERICAN TECH COMPANIES

Federal investigators say McDonnell posed as an heir to the McDonnell Aircraft family and falsely claimed she would eventually gain access to an $80 million secret trust.

She was able to obtain approximately $14.7 million from Banc of California although she knew she was not authorized and did not repay it.

She used similar methods to defraud other financial institutions of more than $15 million, according to the FBI.

SEN ADAM SCHIFF UNDER FEDERAL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION FOR ALLEGED MORTGAGE FRAUD VIOLATIONS

She previously served as the CEO of Bellum Entertainment LLC, a Burbank-based production company, and has documented ties to Los Angeles, Montgomery, Alabama, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

A federal arrest warrant for McDonnell was issued on Dec. 12, 2018, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

A report by Deadline cites that Bellum Entertainment came under investigation by the California Labor Commission in 2017 for the alleged nonpayment of wages to dozens of former employees.

Dubai, Burj Khalifa, United Arab Emirates, Sunset, Cityscape

The outlet also reported that McDonnell told employees the company couldn’t meet payroll because of "significant bank fraud."

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Investigators say they believe that McDonnell is currently in Dubai and describe her as a White female, 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighing 145 pounds, with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a scar on her right knee.

Anyone with information on McDonnell’s whereabouts is urged to contact their local FBI office or the nearest American embassy or consulate.

FBI hunts Michigan woman accused of stealing nearly $30M while posing as aircraft heiress