United States of America v. Tatiana Bazer

Chicago, Illinois, criminal defense lawyer represents the Defendant charged with fraud and impersonating and officer or employee of the United States.

Tatiana Bazer falsely represented to victims that their money would be used in various ways, including, among things, projects in Ukraine, immigration services, or as loans to Bazer to help resolve her purported arrest for shoplifting, according to an indictment returned in U.S. District Court in Chicago. Some of the victims entrusted Bazer with hundreds of thousands of dollars, the indictment states. Bazer spent much of the victims’ money in a manner other than what she had represented, including for her own personal use, the indictment states. Bazer concealed the fraud by sending the victims false records, including bogus wire transfer receipts and fraudulent checks, the indictment states.

Furthermore, after learning that federal law enforcement was investigating her fraud scheme, Bazer pretended to be FBI agents, a prosecutor, and a criminal defense attorney to lull victims into believing that her case would be resolved and that victims would receive their money back, the indictment states.

Bazer, 40, of Buffalo Grove, Ill., is charged with seven counts of wire fraud and two counts of impersonating a federal law enforcement officer. Bazer pleaded not guilty to the charges during her arraignment in federal court in Chicago. A status hearing is scheduled for April 21, 2026, at 10:30 a.m.

The indictment was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The Illinois Secretary of State’s Securities Department provided valuable assistance.

The public is reminded that an indictment is not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Each count of wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, while each count of impersonating a federal law enforcement officer is punishable by up to three years. If convicted, the Court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

A criminal indictment is not proof of guilt.