PITTSBURGH, July 28 (UPI) -- A Western Pennsylvania woman has been charged with cheating small businesses out of thousands of dollars with a fake trade show for wedding suppliers.
Investigators say Karen Tucker, 47, is a serial con artist, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported. Before the show she claimed would take place in Boston in March, she allegedly carried out similar scams in Florida, Ohio, Maryland and Nevada, along with one in Texas after the Boston show.
Tucker was arrested Tuesday at her home in Brookline, Pa., on charges of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. She appeared briefly in federal court in Pittsburgh and is to be transferred to Boston.
Prosecutors say Tucker and an unidentified co-conspirator used the name "The Boston 411" for the supposed bridal show. They negotiated with the Boston Convention Center but never signed a final contract.
The center did confirm the show to suppliers until Tucker failed to meet a deadline for the contract.
The pair allegedly made off with more than $40,000 from business owners who paid for ads or space at the show.
