Mary Carole McDonnell bank fraud case

The Mary Carole McDonnell bank fraud case refers to former TV producer, Mary Carole McDonnell, who is accused of pretending to be an heiress to the McDonnell Douglas aircraft family. By doing this, she allegedly tricked banks and other institutions into giving her almost $30 million between July 2017 and May 2018. The case became news again in December 2025 when the FBI added her to its Most Wanted list, saying she is believed to be hiding in Dubai.

Background

Mary Carole McDonnell, born around 1952 and originally from Michigan, was the CEO of Bellum Entertainment Group, a production company in Burbank, California.[1][2] The company made true-crime TV shows like "It Takes a Killer" and "I Married a Murderer".[3][4] By late 2017, Bellum was in serious financial trouble, with late paychecks and more than $1 million in lawsuits from creditors. As the company was running out of money, McDonnell allegedly took advantage of the situation by pretending she had family ties to the old McDonnell Aircraft Corporation. She claimed she could access an $80 million secret trust fund, even though she had no real connection to the family.[5][6]

Alleged Scheme

McDonnell is accused of targeting Banc of California, securing $14.7 million in loans through deliberate misrepresentations, with funds diverted to cover Bellum's payroll and debts rather than repayment. Authorities claim she defrauded additional institutions for over $15 million in similar fashion across Los Angeles and Orange Counties. The scheme involved false assertions of imminent wealth, leveraging her heiress persona to bypass standard lending scrutiny.[1][3]

Legal Proceedings

A federal grand jury in Santa Ana, California, charged McDonnell on December 12, 2018, with bank fraud and identity theft. A warrant for her arrest was issued right away, but she avoided being caught and is believed to have fled the country. As of December 2025, she has not gone to trial. The FBI describes her as 5'7", about 145 pounds, with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a scar on her right knee. She has also used the names Mary Carole Carroll and Mary C. Carroll.[1][6]

Media Coverage and Public Interest

Recent reports from CNN, NBC News, and other networks, have brought the case back into the publics attention. The coverage points out the irony that McDonnell once produced true crime shows. Articles also mention her connections to Michigan, Los Angeles, Montgomery, Alabama, and the UAE. The FBI is asking the public to share any information through local FBI offices or U.S. embassies.[4][3]

See also

• Madoff investment scandal

External links