A Seattle woman, Amber Towndrow, has pleaded guilty to leading a $1.4 million bank fraud and identity theft scheme. Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller announced the plea in U.S. District Court in Seattle. Towndrow, 36, was indicted alongside Darby Canfield, 35, in April 2024. Prosecutors have agreed to recommend a sentence of no more than eight years for Towndrow when she appears before U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead on June 12, 2025.
Court records reveal that Towndrow and her accomplices obtained personal information from at least 19 victims across the country. In Western Washington, they used this information to register businesses with the Washington Secretary of State. Using business documents and fake identification such as driver's licenses and passports, Towndrow opened business bank accounts linked to victims' personal savings accounts at financial institutions. The conspirators transferred funds from these personal accounts to the business accounts and used debit cards to purchase money orders and high-value goods like designer merchandise or electronics.
Towndrow's fraudulent activities spanned several states including Washington, Colorado, Pennsylvania, California, New Jersey, Indiana, and Washington D.C.
The plea agreement describes how Towndrow defrauded an Illinois victim by creating a company registered in Colorado and listing the victim as the owner. She opened a business banking account at a Chase branch in Seattle for this fictitious company and transferred $131,709 from the victim's account into it. She then purchased 128 U.S. Postal Service money orders totaling $126,653 using the business debit card.
Similar conduct involved a Texas victim who lost $75,000; $50,000 of which was used for MoneyGram money orders in Seattle.
Towndrow admitted to opening at least 50 business bank accounts and attempting to obtain $1.4 million; she successfully acquired $664,000.
Charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud carry penalties of up to 30 years in prison; money laundering up to 20 years; aggravated identity theft includes a mandatory minimum two-year consecutive sentence.
The investigation is being conducted by The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Diplomatic Security Service, and the Seattle Police Department with prosecution led by Assistant United States Attorney Sean Waite.