Published on: May 13, 2026, at 12:55 PM.
Updated on: May 13, 2026, at 12:55 PM.
- A former federal prosecutor has admitted guilt to five counts of identity theft
- Monica Dillon exploited stolen identities to engage in online gambling
- Dillon has been placed in a pretrial diversion program, sidestepping jail time and significant fines
A former federal prosecutor convicted of stealing the identities of five individuals for the purpose of online gambling will not face any prison time.
On Tuesday, a federal judge approved a plea and pretrial diversion plan for Monica Dillon. She served as a trial attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia between 2021 and 2024.
Throughout her career, Dillon led federal prosecutors in cases about white-collar fraud, as well as environmental, tax, and civil rights concerns. Her involvement also included unlawfully acquiring identities to create false online gambling accounts.
West Virginia is among the eight states where online casinos are legally regulated. However, the federal complaint did not identify the specific iGaming site she used to establish the fraudulent accounts.
Dillon faced five counts of identity theft, which could have resulted in fines up to $500,000 and a 20-year prison sentence. Nevertheless, a federal judge has allowed her to evade prison time.
Dillon Avoids Jail and Major Financial Penalties
Given Dillon’s position in the federal prosecutor’s office in West Virginia, the case was overseen by a federal judge and prosecutor from North Carolina’s Western District.
In return for her guilty plea, Judge Kenneth Bell approved the special prosecutor’s suggestion that Dillon participate in a pretrial diversion program. This includes 24 months of supervision by the US Probation Office in the Southern District of West Virginia, requiring her to pay $30,000 in restitution to the victims and a court fee of $500, or $100 for each felony count.
Upon the successful completion of her probation and payment of restitution, all charges will be dismissed as per the settlement agreement. The plea also waives her right to appeal.
Arguably, the most significant repercussion of Dillon’s identity theft is the forfeiture of her law license in West Virginia. The state’s Supreme Court accepted her voluntary disbarment in 2025.
Key Facts
The federal charges lodged against Dillon revealed that she unlawfully obtained the names, social security numbers, and birth dates of five victims to create iGaming accounts and conduct financial activities in their names.
In West Virginia, it is a felony to “knowingly utilize another person’s identifying information, without their consent, with the intent to fraudulently identify as that individual for financial or credit transactions.”
The US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia has not issued a press release regarding Dillon’s plea agreement and sentencing.