Texas woman sentenced for role in Ponzi scheme that bilked senior citizens out of millions of dollars [Video]

A 65-year-old Texas woman was sentenced to life behind bars on Tuesday for her role in a Ponzi scheme targeting senior citizens. 

Debra Mae Carter worked with William Neil Gallagher, a Christian radio host who called himself the “Money Doctor,” to scam more than 170 people out of around $31 million, Tarrant County prosecutors said in a news release. Gallagher brought in the money — which Assistant DA Lori Varnell described as retirement savings — while Carter made sure the victims couldn’t recover their money. 

“These were hard-earned retirement (dollars) which … got put into her account over and over again,” Varnell said.

Carter laundered the money through rental homes, land and fake charities. Investigators found around $200,000 in gold and silver when they searched her travel trailer.

Carter represented herself during the trial. Victims spoke out during sentencing about the impact the Ponzi scheme had on them. …