Police say a Fort Myers woman convinced acquaintances she was about to inherit more than $1 billion.
Morgan Johnson, 24, of 4301 Staley Road, Fort Myers, is under on charges including fraud and grand theft.
The Lee County Sheriff's Office Economic Crimes Unit said Johnson approached three family acquaintances in September 2011 and said she was inheriting six or seven businesses from a former employer that would pay her in excess of $1 billion.
Police say Johnson began hitting up the acquaintances for money to pay for different "emergencies," including bank levies, fees regarding a child custody battle, even the threat that the bank was moving to foreclose on her home. Johnson reportedly claimed these emergencies all jeopardized the massive amount of money she was set to inherit.
One acquaintance gave Johnson more than $46,000 until becoming suspicious and calling the Lee County Sheriff's Office. Police say Johnson went to great lengths to keep the scam alive, including creating fictitious names of bank employees she was working with and forging bank documents that purported she was owed the large windfall.
