CHEYENNE – A Rock Springs woman who was found guilty of mail fraud was sentenced to probation.

Paula Quinton, 59, of Rock Springs, was sentenced by Chief Federal District Court Judge Nancy D. Freudenthal on August 13, 2015, for mail fraud.

This was based on Quinton’s admitted participation in a scheme to defraud individuals who responded to internet sales offerings. As part of the scheme, unknown persons advertised merchandise for sale on the internet.

When an unsuspecting individual responded to the advertisement and agreed to purchase the merchandise, which did not exist, the victim was instructed to send the money to Quinton. Based on instructions she received from her online “boyfriend,” whom she had never met in person, Quinton would then keep a small portion of the money that she received and forward the remaining money to Nigeria and other places.

Quinton continued to do this even after she had been warned by federal authorities that the money she was receiving was stolen and she was participating in a fraud. she was arrested in Rock Springs.

Quinton received three years supervised probation and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,075.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement.