Missouri Woman Admits Serving as Money Mule for $2 Million Lottery Scam

ST. LOUIS - A Missouri woman on Wednesday admitted acting as a money mule and receiving more than $2 million from elderly fraud victims around the country, despite repeatedly being warned by investigators and bank officials.

Sharon Dolisi, 79, of Phelps County near St. James, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. She admitted depositing cashier's checks and personal checks from 28 victims into her personal bank accounts from about April 21, 2023, to June 11, 2025. Less than a week after her first deposit, one bank closed her account. On Oct. 28, 2024, Dolisi lied when she told law enforcement officials that she was not receiving money from or sending money to other people. Four days later, in response to an inquiry by bank representatives about three large cash withdrawals totaling $64,500, Dolisi falsely claimed that she buys and sells gold. On June 27, 2025, Dolisi told a bank representative that she immediately needed $54,000 in cash to buy gold and collectibles.

All the while, Dolisi was opening bank accounts and supplying debit cards to co-conspirators in Jamaica, who used those debit cards to withdraw money obtained through lottery frauds. Victims were contacted by phone or text and told that they had won a lottery but needed to prepay "taxes" and "fees" to "intermediates" and "merchant bankers." If victims didn't have enough liquid assets to pay the taxes and fees, conspirators told them to obtain reverse mortgages and home equity loans.

Dolisi admitted receiving more than $2 million from victims and moving more than $1.9 million in fraud proceeds through her account.

Dolisi is scheduled to be sentenced on June 25. The conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or both. She will also be ordered to pay restitution.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gwen Carroll is prosecuting the case.