September 28, 2026
Chanise Coyne convinced a family to pay more than $4.6 million for modeling jobs for their young daughter that never existed. Much of the money went on online slots, Taylor Swift tickets and luxury trips. She will now spend five years in federal prison.
For more than a year, a Michigan family believed they were paying for their young daughter's big break in modeling. In reality there were no bookings, no sponsors and no events — only a family friend spending their money. On 22 September, Chanise Coyne, 46, of New Boston, Michigan, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for taking more than $4.6 million from them.
Defendant: Chanise Coyne, 46, New Boston, Michigan
Charge: Wire fraud (guilty plea in May 2026)
Sentence: 5 years in federal prison + 3 years supervised release
Restitution: $4,669,962.76
Duration of the scheme: about 14 months
How the scheme worked
Coyne was no stranger to the victims. She had done business with the family before and knew how much they wanted their daughter to succeed as a model. According to court records, she told the parents she could line up modeling jobs for the girl across the United States — but each opportunity supposedly required a large payment up front to cover expenses.
To keep the story believable, prosecutors said, Coyne produced a steady stream of fake emails, text messages and invoices, and even posed as people who were supposedly involved in the modeling and sponsorship deals. In one message she pretended to be a Nike employee asking for almost $98,000 to secure a sponsorship.
From a slot app win to chasing losses
Investigators traced a large share of the stolen money to gambling. Coyne's lawyer told the court that her betting escalated after she started gambling online during the COVID-19 pandemic. At one point she had won close to $200,000 on an online slot-machine app — then began placing ever larger bets until the winnings were gone.
According to the defence, that is when she became desperate and started taking the family's money, hoping to gamble her way back to the earlier high. Prosecutors did not accept that framing, arguing that the gambling was only part of a wider pattern of spending stolen money on herself.
Where the money went
Court records list some eye-catching purchases alongside the gambling:
| Spending | Details |
|---|---|
| Online gambling | A large share of the money, mainly on slot apps |
| Taylor Swift concert | Over $200,000 on premium seats for the October 2024 show at Hard Rock Stadium, Florida |
| Stanley Cup Final | Tickets to the NHL championship series |
| Royal Caribbean cruise | A holiday at sea |
Her defence claimed that some of the travel and entertainment costs were linked to perks and inducements offered by online gambling operators — an argument that did little to soften the outcome.
A family left with nothing
The damage to the victims was severe. Prosecutors said the parents drained their savings, borrowed from relatives and sold off assets, all while believing they were investing in their daughter's future. On top of her prison term, Coyne has been ordered to repay $4,669,962.76 and will spend three years under supervised release after she gets out.
The Coyne case is a stark example of how chasing losses can spiral far beyond a player's own bank account. A single big slot win turned into a habit that, according to prosecutors, was fuelled by millions taken from a trusting family — and ended with a five-year prison sentence and a restitution bill she is unlikely ever to clear in full.
If gambling is no longer fun, or you find yourself chasing losses, reach out early. In the US, the National Problem Gambling Helpline is available 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER.
