Former South Carolina postmaster, friend claim ties to Tyler Perry to scam people
Carla Field
Digital Managing Editor
WYFF SOURCE: WYFF
Two women, one of whom is a former postmaster in South Carolina, have admitted to scamming people with a tale about a book that Tyler Perry was to make into a movie. Patricia Sullivan, 66, and Sharon Johnson, 50, pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court in Greenville, South Carolina to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Prosecutors said Sullivan, a former Greenville County postmaster, and Johnson were co-conspirators who scammed more than $300,000 from unsuspecting supporters. Shortly after publication of Johnson's book "The Struggle of Love" in 2009, Sullivan and Johnson began to spin a story that the producer Tyler Perry had bought the rights to the book and would be making a movie or reality TV show staring Johnson. Sullivan operated a company called HYPD Publishing that published the book. Victims were told that Sullivan and Johnson were on the verge of great wealth, but needed bridge loans or some other form of financial assistance until the project with Perry reached fruition. Sullivan and Johnson promised the victims large returns in exchange for the loans and/or investments. To make themselves look the part of successful individuals, Sullivan and Johnson squatted in several mansions, took photos and posted them to Facebook. They also created fictitious documents from an accounting firm that documented the sale of the book and a huge payout to come, as well as a bogus Wells Fargo statement that showed millions of dollars as pending. Investigators said there was never a book deal, and the victims lost all the money they loaned or invested. Sullivan and Johnson face maximum penalties of up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 fines.
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. —
Two women, one of whom is a former postmaster in South Carolina, have admitted to scamming people with a tale about a book that Tyler Perry was to make into a movie.
Patricia Sullivan, 66, and Sharon Johnson, 50, pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court in Greenville, South Carolina to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Prosecutors said Sullivan, a former Greenville County postmaster, and Johnson were co-conspirators who scammed more than $300,000 from unsuspecting supporters.
Shortly after publication of Johnson's book "The Struggle of Love" in 2009, Sullivan and Johnson began to spin a story that the producer Tyler Perry had bought the rights to the book and would be making a movie or reality TV show staring Johnson. Sullivan operated a company called HYPD Publishing that published the book.
Victims were told that Sullivan and Johnson were on the verge of great wealth, but needed bridge loans or some other form of financial assistance until the project with Perry reached fruition. Sullivan and Johnson promised the victims large returns in exchange for the loans and/or investments.
To make themselves look the part of successful individuals, Sullivan and Johnson squatted in several mansions, took photos and posted them to Facebook.
They also created fictitious documents from an accounting firm that documented the sale of the book and a huge payout to come, as well as a bogus Wells Fargo statement that showed millions of dollars as pending.
Investigators said there was never a book deal, and the victims lost all the money they loaned or invested.
Sullivan and Johnson face maximum penalties of up to 20 years in prison and $250,000 fines.