Seymour woman sentenced to prison for $850K fraud scheme

A Seymour woman has been sentenced for a fraud scheme that totaled more than $850,000.

Renee Delann Clouse, 56, was ordered to spend 10 years in federal prison without parole, pay $857,618 in restitution and forfeit the same amount to the federal government, according to a news release from the office of Jeffrey P. Ray, acting U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri.

Clouse pleaded guilty in April 2024 to two counts of wire fraud related to the scheme in which she obtained the personal identify information of her fellow inmates in state prison to fraudulently obtain student loans and tax refunds. Clouse, who had been incarcerated in state prison on a drug conviction, continued the fraud scheme upon her release.

The release indicates the federal education fraud scheme totaled $804,434 and that Clouse obtained $53,174 via fraudulent IRS refunds.

Federal officials say Clouse continued her fraud scheme after learning she was being investigated and after agreeing to plead guilty.