Former U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald was among the alleged targets of a Chicago woman accused of filing fake claims against federal officials, according to an indictment filed Thursday.
Cherron Marie Phillips, 42, also known as “River Tali,” was charged Friday with allegedly filing bogus liens on the property of 12 different unnamed officials referred to in the indictment as Chief United States District Judge, United States District Court Clerk, Federal Task Force Officer and United States Attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald.
According to the indictment, each lien included "a materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statement and representation" that alleged they owed Phillips’ brother $100 billion.
In total Phillips is accused of filing statements again two federal prosecutors, five federal agents, a federal court clerk and four federal judges.
“We take these cases very seriously.” United States Attorney Wigginton said in a statement. “We will continue to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law all who seek to intimidate, harass, and retaliate against federal judges and employees by filing false liens against their property.
Phillips is in custody ahead of a detention hearing next week. If convicted, she could receive a maximum possible penalty of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
