Former Reality Television Series “Bad Girl” Pleads Guilty To Fraud
Former reality TV personality Shannade Clermont pled guilty to wire fraud for stealing debit card information from a deceased man she visited for prostitution, using his identity to make over $20,000 in fraudulent purchases and a $1,000 Western Union transfer, and faces up to 20 years in prison.
Shannade Clermont pled guilty to one count of wire fraud for stealing debit card information from a man who died of an overdose in his Manhattan apartment in February 2017. She used the stolen data to make over $20,000 in fraudulent purchases—including rent, flights, clothing, and merchandise—and created a fake email account in the victim’s name to impersonate him, notably initiating a $1,000 Western Union transfer to herself. Charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, she faces a maximum sentence of 20 years, with sentencing scheduled for February 13, 2019, after an investigation by the NYPD and prosecution by the Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit.
Shannade Clermont, a former reality TV personality known as a 'Bad Girl,' pled guilty to one count of wire fraud for stealing debit card information from a deceased man she visited for a prostitution date in his Manhattan apartment on January 31, 2017. The man was found dead of an overdose on February 1, 2017, and in the months that followed, Clermont used his stolen financial data to make over $20,000 in fraudulent purchases, including rent, phone bills, flights, and thousands of dollars in clothing and merchandise. To facilitate the fraud, she created a fake email account in the victim’s name to impersonate him, including registering a Western Union account in his name to send $1,000 to herself on April 3, 2017. The case was investigated by the NYPD and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Clermont, 24, of Georgia, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald and faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Sentencing was scheduled for February 13, 2019, underscoring the federal government’s commitment to prosecuting identity theft and debit card fraud, even when tied to illicit personal relationships. The case highlights how criminals exploit vulnerable situations—such as the death of a victim—to commit large-scale financial fraud using stolen identities.
Extracted insights
- $20K $20,000 $10K–$100K
- $1K $1,000 <$10K
- person debit card information
- scheme_term one felony count of wire fraud
- person sagar k. ravi
- person shannade clermont
- scheme_term wire fraud
- Shannade Clermont pled guilty to one felony count of wire fraud
- Shannade Clermont stole debit card information
- Shannade Clermont made more than $20,000 in fraudulent charges
- Shannade Clermont visited the Victim for a prostitution date
- Shannade Clermont stole two debit cards
- Shannade Clermont used the stolen debit card information
- Shannade Clermont created a fake email account
- Shannade Clermont faces time in federal prison
- The Victim died of an overdose
- The Victim was found dead on the morning of February 1, 2017
- The fake email account was used to register an account with Western Union
- The account was used to initiate a fraudulent money transfer of $1,000
- Wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years
- Sentencing is scheduled for February 13, 2019
- Sagar K. Ravi is in charge of the prosecution
Press Release Former Reality Television Series “Bad Girl” Pleads Guilty To Fraud Thursday, November 1, 2018 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that SHANNADE CLERMONT pled guilty to one felony count of wire fraud for making and attempting more than $20,000 in fraudulent charges using the stolen debit card information of a deceased man she had visited for a prostitution date. CLERMONT pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald. U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Former reality TV ‘Bad Girl’ Shannade Clermont stole debit card information from a man she visited for a prostitution date in his Manhattan apartment. When he died of an overdose, Clermont used the deceased man’s identity to make tens of thousands of dollars in fraudulent purchases. She has now pled guilty to fraud and faces time in federal prison. This case demonstrates that in reality, those who commit debit card fraud will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” According to the allegations contained in the Complaint and Indictment to which CLERMONT pled guilty: The NYPD and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York have been investigating the overdose death of a male individual (the “Victim”), who was found dead on the morning of February 1, 2017, in his apartment at 250 East 53rd Street in Manhattan, New York (the “Victim Apartment”). During the course of that investigation, law enforcement learned that CLERMONT visited the Victim for a prostitution date at the Victim Apartment the previous evening (January 31, 2017), and stole two debit cards from his wallet. CLERMONT then used the stolen debit card information to make or attempt to make more than $20,000 in fraudulent purchases during the months following the Victim’s death, including to pay her rent and phone bills, purchase flights, and make several online purchases of thousands of dollars of clothing and other merchandise. CLERMONT also created and used a fake email account in the Victim’s name to falsely represent to third parties that she was the Victim, in order to commit fraud using the Victim’s identity. Specifically, on or about April 3, 2017, approximately two months after the Victim’s death, the fake email account was used to register an account with Western Union in the name of the Victim, which was used to initiate a fraudulent money transfer of $1,000 from the Victim to CLERMONT. * * * CLERMONT, 24, of Georgia, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years. Sentencing before Judge Buchwald is scheduled for February 13, 2019 at 2:30pm. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD. The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Sagar K. Ravi is in charge of the prosecution. Updated November 1, 2018 Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 18-379
Press Release Former Reality Television Series “Bad Girl” Pleads Guilty To Fraud Thursday, November 1, 2018 Share FacebookLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. XLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. LinkedInLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the “external link” icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link. Email For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that SHANNADE CLERMONT pled guilty to one felony count of wire fraud for making and attempting more than $20,000 in fraudulent charges using the stolen debit card information of a deceased man she had visited for a prostitution date. CLERMONT pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald. U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Former reality TV ‘Bad Girl’ Shannade Clermont stole debit card information from a man she visited for a prostitution date in his Manhattan apartment. When he died of an overdose, Clermont used the deceased man’s identity to make tens of thousands of dollars in fraudulent purchases. She has now pled guilty to fraud and faces time in federal prison. This case demonstrates that in reality, those who commit debit card fraud will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” According to the allegations contained in the Complaint and Indictment to which CLERMONT pled guilty: The NYPD and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York have been investigating the overdose death of a male individual (the “Victim”), who was found dead on the morning of February 1, 2017, in his apartment at 250 East 53rd Street in Manhattan, New York (the “Victim Apartment”). During the course of that investigation, law enforcement learned that CLERMONT visited the Victim for a prostitution date at the Victim Apartment the previous evening (January 31, 2017), and stole two debit cards from his wallet. CLERMONT then used the stolen debit card information to make or attempt to make more than $20,000 in fraudulent purchases during the months following the Victim’s death, including to pay her rent and phone bills, purchase flights, and make several online purchases of thousands of dollars of clothing and other merchandise. CLERMONT also created and used a fake email account in the Victim’s name to falsely represent to third parties that she was the Victim, in order to commit fraud using the Victim’s identity. Specifically, on or about April 3, 2017, approximately two months after the Victim’s death, the fake email account was used to register an account with Western Union in the name of the Victim, which was used to initiate a fraudulent money transfer of $1,000 from the Victim to CLERMONT. * * * CLERMONT, 24, of Georgia, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years. Sentencing before Judge Buchwald is scheduled for February 13, 2019 at 2:30pm. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD. The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant United States Attorney Sagar K. Ravi is in charge of the prosecution. Updated November 1, 2018 Component USAO - New York, Southern Press Release Number: 18-379