Shelbra Long, a 58-year-old resident of Edinburg, Texas, has entered a guilty plea to charges of conspiring to commit mail fraud and wire fraud. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Daniel Hanlon and Acting Special Agent in Charge Isabel Douroupis from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General (ED OIG) – Eastern Regional Office.
Long admitted her involvement in a fraudulent scheme that spanned ten years. She applied for admission and financial aid at online colleges using stolen identities. Once the Department of Education disbursed financial aid to these institutions, Long and her accomplices would withdraw the purported students from enrollment. The schools then refunded unused financial aid amounts to bank accounts controlled by the conspirators. Through this scheme, $466,430 in aid was awarded by the Department of Education, with $211,820 actually disbursed.
The sentencing for Long is scheduled for June 26, 2025. She could face up to 20 years in prison along with a fine up to $250,000 and a supervised release term of up to three years. Additionally, Long has agreed to pay restitution amounting to $211,820 to the Department of Education and will forfeit an additional $52,304.
The case was investigated by ED OIG and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan S. Reiner.