79-year-old woman admits to being money mule in $2 million scam

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A 79-year-old woman from Phelps County admitted to acting as a money mule in a $2 million lottery scam, according to a Wednesday press release from the Department of Justice.

Sharon Dolisi pleaded guilty in the Eastern District Court of Missouri to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. The release says she admitted to “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.”

She will be sentenced on June 25 and faces a potential 20-year prison sentence. One bank closed her account after the first deposit, the release says.

“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,” the release says. “On June 27, 2025, Dolisi told a bank representative that she immediately needed $54,000 in cash to buy gold and collectibles.”

She allegedly gave debit cards to “co-conspirators in Jamaica,” the release says. Those people would then withdraw money obtained through lottery frauds. Victims were allegedly called and told they won the lottery, but needed to “prepay taxes and fees,” the release says.