British expat gets nine years for role in sick heiress scheme

A 76-year-old British expatriate who falsely promised investors they would be repaid 1,000-fold for contributing to the care of a terminally ill woman on the verge of inheriting billions has been sentenced to nine years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Handed down Wednesday, the sentence follows Laurence Miles’ guilty plea earlier this year to one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and money laundering.

Miles, who permanently moved from England to the United States in 1998, told his victims he was the trustee for the estate of “Shirley,” which only could be disbursed if she survived to see the end of a secret probate proceeding, according to court documents. They would receive $1,000 for every dollar that they contributed to her care.

However, there was no heiress, and Miles and his four codefendants spent the money on themselves.

“Through Miles’ lies and alleged charm, he, along with his codefendants, obtained approximately $8,303,971,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a sentencing memorandum.

Miles played a key role in the scheme, but it was his codefendant Shirley Molina who concocted the story and first used it to “perpetrate funds” in the 1980s and 1990s, for which she was twice convicted, according to prosecutors. They didn’t start working together until 2004.

The 108-month sentence doled out by U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh was exactly what prosecutors wanted and a far cry from the four months sought by defense attorneys.

Miles’ lawyers claimed in their sentencing memorandum that their client actually believed Molina’s story.

“Miles recognizes the illegality of his actions, and accepts full responsibility for them,” they wrote. “He deeply regrets the false statements he made and the damage that he caused so many people who trusted him, believing as he did that he was serving a greater good.”

Koh also ordered Miles to serve three years of supervised release and pay a forfeiture money judgment of $5.6 million. Miles is scheduled to report to prison in October and must wear an electronic monitoring device until then, according to prosecutors.

Each of Miles’ codefendants have pleaded guilty to their respective roles in the scheme and will be sentenced later this year.