Woman claimed to be $350m girlboss... we reveal the humiliating truth
Shannon Monet Steel, 42, told people she kept her nine-figure fortune in her own private bank and that she was an Ambassador to the Central African Republic.
TL;DR
- Shannon Monet Steel, 42, is accused of defrauding an investor out of $200,000 by falsely presenting herself as a successful businesswoman.
- Prosecutors allege Steel fabricated a $350 million business empire, including a private bank and an ambassadorship to the Central African Republic.
- She is charged with one count of wire fraud and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
- Steel allegedly used a phony letter from Deutsche Bank to claim significant personal wealth.
- She also allegedly lied about volunteer hours to receive a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award.
- Public records indicate a history of bankruptcy, unemployment, and modest living conditions.
- Federal investigators confirmed she was not an accredited diplomat with the US Department of State.
- Claims of owning and renovating a hotel were also reportedly false, with no certificate of occupancy issued.
- A separate case resulted in a $1.5 million award against her for breaching a franchise agreement.