A Michigan photographer who admitted defrauding a family of over $4.6 million in a fake child modeling scheme and spending significant amounts on gambling has been sentenced to five years in federal prison.
Chanise Coyne, 46, of New Boston, persuaded the family that millions were needed for their daughter to participate in modeling events across the country. However, the girl never attended any modeling events.
Instead, Coyne fabricated text messages, emails, and invoices to continue the scheme while misusing the family’s funds. Prosecutors revealed that she gambled extensively with the money, including engaging in multiple money-laundering transactions with online sportsbook FanDuel.
$4.6M Restitution
Coyne faced seven counts of wire fraud and five counts of money laundering initially. She pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in May, confessing to obtaining over $4.6 million through the scheme.
On September 21, a federal judge sentenced her to five years in prison and three years of supervised release. She was also ordered to repay $4,669,962.76 in restitution.
“Coyne utilized a child’s dreams as a cover for a multi-million-dollar fraud against a family,” U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. stated upon the sentence announcement.
The exact amount Coyne spent on gambling was not disclosed in the U.S. Attorney’s Office statement. Nonetheless, prosecutors indicated that gambling was not her only lavish expense. Court documents showed she spent over $200,000 on Taylor Swift concert tickets in Florida during the fraud.
Elaborate Deception
Coyne ran a photography business and had previous dealings with the family. Federal prosecutors mentioned that she forged documents to make the family believe the opportunities were real and even impersonated a third party as part of the scam.
“This was not an error or a momentary lapse in judgment,” remarked Jennifer Runyan, FBI’s Detroit Field Office special agent, post-sentencing. “This was a premeditated, multi-million-dollar fraud scheme that preyed on a family’s trust and a child’s aspirations for personal financial gain.”
More Victims
The number of individuals deceived by Coyne could be higher. A private Facebook group called “Chanise Coyne Scam Victims” boasts over 360 members. Many report a pattern of Coyne scheduling and canceling photoshoots without refunds.
In November 2024, FOX 2 Detroit uncovered that she had arranged Christmas photoshoots with local families but canceled, attributing it to the Santa Claus performer contracting mpox.
The news station later interviewed the performer, who denied having the disease.