By Charles E. Ramirez, cramirez@detroitnews.com
A Michigan-born woman accused of defrauding banks in California has landed on the FBI’s Most Wanted List.
, 73, is a fugitive and wanted by the FBI for her alleged involvement in a fraud scheme in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Investigators said they believe she is in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Agents said she was part of a scheme starting in 2017 that bilked $14.7 million from Banc of California and $15 million from another California bank.
Officials said McDonnell falsely claims to be an heir to the McDonnell Aircraft family and has an $80 million secret trust. They also said she was born in Michigan and has ties to Los Angeles and Montgomery, Ala.
A federal grand jury indicted McDonnell, who was a Los Angeles resident, in December 2018 on charges of bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. A federal warrant was issued for her arrest on Dec. 12, 2018.
According to court documents, she was the CEO of Bellum Entertainment LLC, a Burbank, Calif.-based production and distribution company behind true-crime shows such as “It Takes a Killer,” “Corrupt Crimes,” and “I Married a Murderer.”
