Anita Louise Schriver, 36, of Lexington Park, Md. (Booking photo)LEONARDTOWN, Md. (Aug. 12, 2016)—An ex-convict was implicated in a scam perpetrated on April 5 to defraud a disabled, elderly woman of $300. Police say Anita Louise Schriver, 36, of Lexington Park, convinced the victim that she was guilty of "environmental violations" and owed the EPA a $300 fine. Schriver reportedly resided with the victim.
On April 14, police in St. Mary's forwarded a then-unsubstantiated tip about the fraud scheme to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Inspector General (OIG), hotline. The EPA was involved because the tip indicated the scam involved an unknown individual who posed as an employee of the EPA. The person allegedly demanded cash from an elderly female for environmental violations in St. Mary Co.
A preliminary investigation, conducted by EPA Special Agent Alex Bailey and Deputy Dale Smith, developed Schriver as a suspect. The investigators say Schriver provided inconsistent statements regarding the incident during the initial interview. The victim told investigators that she only dealt with Schriver in regards to the alleged scam; there was no communication with an EPA employee. The victim paid $300 to Schriver who indicated that she would pay the EPA employee to resolve the environmental violations.
During the investigation, the EPA OIG, and the sheriff's office continued to develop information through subpoenas and source development showing Schriver fabricated the EPA's involvement in order to deceive the victim.
On Saturday, July 23, Schriver was again interviewed by Deputy Smith regarding the EPA incident. During the interview, police say Schriver admitted fabricating the story about an EPA employee being involved in the scheme to defraud the victim. A criminal summons was issued that day charging Schriver with violations of Maryland Statute, CR §7-104, Theft under $1000.
The summons was served on Friday, July 29, while she was incarcerated in the county jail on unrelated charges. The other charges accuse Schriver of first degree burglary and theft of between $10,000 and $100,000 for an incident which allegedly occurred on Monday, July 11. A warrant for her arrest was issued on Monday, July 25, and served on Wednesday, July 27. Schriver was presented before a District Court Commissioner, was denied bail, and remains in custody at the county jail in Leonardtown.
Schriver has 8 criminal cases in the Md. Judiciary database dating back to 2008. While charges were dropped in some cases, Schriver has served county jail time in two different instances.