2 Sentenced in $1M Financial Fraud Scheme

Former financial services specialists stole from investors through real estate scam

Feb. 2, 2026 at 8:39am

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Two former financial services specialists from Virginia were sentenced in federal court for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud affecting financial institutions. Roberta Leigh Dawson was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison, while Edward Fitzgerald received a 5-year sentence. The pair used clients' personal and financial information to obtain fraudulent real estate loans, sell homes without the owners' knowledge, and divert hundreds of thousands of dollars from client accounts to pay for their own expenses.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing threat of financial fraud schemes that target vulnerable investors, often through the abuse of trust and access to sensitive personal and financial information. It also underscores the importance of robust oversight and accountability measures in the financial services industry to protect consumers.

The details

According to court documents, Dawson was a licensed loan officer who used client information provided by Fitzgerald, a purported financial advisor, to obtain fraudulent real estate loans. In some instances, the pair sold victims' homes without their knowledge and diverted the equity to pay for their own expenses. They also used clients' personal information to obtain loans in their names and submitted loan applications with misstatements.

  • On September 24, 2025, Roberta Leigh Dawson pleaded guilty to the mail and wire fraud charge.
  • On January 20, 2026, Edward Fitzgerald was sentenced to 5 years in prison after pleading guilty on September 16, 2025.
  • On February 2, 2026, Roberta Leigh Dawson was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison.

The players

Roberta Leigh Dawson

A 63-year-old former financial services specialist from Alexandria, Virginia, who is now a resident of Norlina, North Carolina. She pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison.

Edward Fitzgerald

A 59-year-old former financial advisor from Fairfax, Virginia, who specialized in real estate transactions and investments. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and was sentenced to 5 years in prison.

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The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing threat of financial fraud schemes that target vulnerable investors, often through the abuse of trust and access to sensitive personal and financial information. It underscores the importance of robust oversight and accountability measures in the financial services industry to protect consumers.