On Dec. 22, 2014 in Roanoke, Virginia, Donna J. Tucker was sentenced to 60 months in prison and ordered to pay $976,485 in restitution to victims. Tucker pleaded guilty to wire fraud and tax evasion charges. In evidence presented at sentencing, Tucker was an investment advisor in Roanoke from 2007 through April 2013. She stole directly from, and caused loss to, the accounts of two sets of victims. In August 2010, Tucker forged the signature of one of her clients, an elderly couple who held a joint account, in order to obtain a line of credit, supposedly for the clients, through her firm’s banking arm. Tucker took these actions without the knowledge or consent of the victim. Approximately one year later, on Aug. 4, 2011, Tucker caused to be transmitted a wire transfer of $295,000 from the victim’s account to her own account at a local credit union. These funds were used to benefit Tucker and her family. In addition, Tucker took steps to ensure the victims did not learn of the unauthorized transfer by instructing others at her firm to place the victims in an all-electronic delivery system that would send the victim’s account statements by email. Tucker also made false statements to the victims, other employees at the firm and created false documents in order to carry out the scheme. Additionally, in calendar year 2011, Tucker reported to the IRS a taxable income of $125,333. She failed to report additional taxable income of at least $340,000, which resulted in an additional tax of at least $115,000 being owed to the United States.