Chantal McCorkle
Encyclopedia
Chantal Watts McCorkle is a British
citizen. Along with William J. McCorkle
(formerly Gonzalez), her American husband, she was tried and convicted in 1998 in Florida
for her part in a financial fraud. The McCorkles sold kits purporting to show buyers how to get rich by buying property in foreclosures and government auctions. They advertised on infomercial
s; among the grounds for their conviction was their representation in the infomercials that they owned luxury automobiles and airplanes (actually rented for the commercials), and their use of purported testimonials from satisfied customers, who were actually paid actors.
She and her husband, both represented by F. Lee Bailey, were each originally sentenced to over 24 years in federal prison
under mandatory sentencing
laws. After two appeals, the McCorkles' sentences were reduced in 2006 to 18 years.
The severity of McCorkle's sentence drew notice in the United Kingdom
, both in national media such as the BBC
and amongst British Politicians. On 22 February 2005, Early Day Motion
number 733 in the British Houses of Parliament debated the following topic:-
A total of 127 British MPs officially endorsed the early day motion and their American counterparts were made aware, though previous letters had already been sent by other politicians such as Lord Longford. Although subsequent representations have been made to the American judicial system e.g. by Fiona Mactaggart
(an MP, and former Prisons Minister) these were not acted on.
After several years of legal appeals against her sentence, McCorkle applied to transfer to a British prison to serve the remainder of her sentence, under the terms of a reciprocal treaty with the USA. However, her application was rejected in July 2006. McCorkle reapplied for a treaty transfer in 2008 but her application was once again rejected in October of that year.
On 30 October 2008, McCorkle received a letter from the US Department of Justice Pardon Attorney's office rejecting her request for commutation of her sentence.
As of July 2009 she was an inmate at FMC Carswell
(Fort Worth, Texas
) in the United States
with an expected prison sentence expiry date of July 7, 2014. McCorkle remained in a medium-security prison, whereas William J. McCorkle
(her ex-husband), had transferred to a low-security "camp" prison the previous year. McCorkle was not eligible for transfer to a lower-security prison because, as a British
citizen, she was viewed as a high flight risk
.
and then (on 29 August) at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City
. On 30 September 2009 she was driven to the nearest international airport, where custody was signed over to British Prison Officers who escorted her back to the UK. After arriving at London Heathrow airport, McCorkle was transferred to HMP Holloway in London
. At Holloway she was assigned the following inmate identity number: EP6484.
On 30 October 2009, McCorkle was transferred to HMP Send, near Woking
in Surrey
. HMP Send has a significantly lower security classification than HMP Holloway, with a much easier prison regime. In early February 2010 she was transferred to HMP East Sutton Park
and assigned the inmate identity number A2760AG. HMP East Sutton Park is an "open prison" i.e. has the lowest possible security rating in the British penal system. There are no security fences surrounding the prison and, subject to conditions, inmates are able to leave the grounds for home visits. McCorkle remained at HMP East Sutton Park until her release from prison on 25 June 2010. As of September 2010 she was living with her parents in High Wycombe
, Buckinghamshire
and had reverted to her maiden name of "Watts".
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
citizen. Along with William J. McCorkle
William J. McCorkle
William Joseph McCorkle is an American businessman, former real estate guru and former owner of William McCorkle Seminars. In the 1990s he and his wife Chantal created a number of late-night television infomercials, selling materials which purported to teach people how to make money buying...
(formerly Gonzalez), her American husband, she was tried and convicted in 1998 in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
for her part in a financial fraud. The McCorkles sold kits purporting to show buyers how to get rich by buying property in foreclosures and government auctions. They advertised on infomercial
Infomercial
Infomercials are direct response television commercials which generally include a phone number or website. There are long-form infomercials, which are typically between 15 and 30 minutes in length, and short-form infomercials, which are typically 30 seconds to 120 seconds in length. Infomercials...
s; among the grounds for their conviction was their representation in the infomercials that they owned luxury automobiles and airplanes (actually rented for the commercials), and their use of purported testimonials from satisfied customers, who were actually paid actors.
She and her husband, both represented by F. Lee Bailey, were each originally sentenced to over 24 years in federal prison
Federal prison
Federal prisons are run by national governments in countries where subdivisions of the country also operate prisons.In the United States federal prisons are operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. In Canada the Correctional Service of Canada operates federal prisons. Prison sentences in these...
under mandatory sentencing
Mandatory sentencing
A mandatory sentence is a court decision setting where judicial discretion is limited by law. Typically, people convicted of certain crimes must be punished with at least a minimum number of years in prison...
laws. After two appeals, the McCorkles' sentences were reduced in 2006 to 18 years.
Prison sentence controversy
McCorkle's incarceration in the US Federal Prison system began on 5 November 1998. She was assigned the following inmate identification number: 23033-018.The severity of McCorkle's sentence drew notice in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, both in national media such as the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and amongst British Politicians. On 22 February 2005, Early Day Motion
Early day motion
An Early Day Motion , in the Westminster system, is a motion, expressed as a single sentence, tabled by Members of Parliament for debate "on an early day" . Controversial EDMs are not signed by Government Ministers, PPS or the Speaker of the House of Commons and very few are debated on the floor...
number 733 in the British Houses of Parliament debated the following topic:-
That this House notes that Chantal McCorkle, a British citizen, was sentenced to 24 years and four months imprisonment in the United States for offences which might carry only a suspended sentence in the UK; further notes that the judge who sentenced her in 1999 expressed disquiet at the sentence that she felt obliged to give; further notes that recent cases of Blakely and Booker in the United States Supreme Court cast doubt on the sentencing guidelines then used and give grounds for an appeal; and urges the Government to support Chantal's lawyers and press the United States legal system to hear Chantal's appeal against sentence as expeditiously as possible and to ensure that no barriers are placed to Chantal's transfer to the UK to serve whatever remaining sentence she has after her appeal.
A total of 127 British MPs officially endorsed the early day motion and their American counterparts were made aware, though previous letters had already been sent by other politicians such as Lord Longford. Although subsequent representations have been made to the American judicial system e.g. by Fiona Mactaggart
Fiona Mactaggart
Fiona Margaret Mactaggart is a British Labour Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Slough since 1997.-Early life:...
(an MP, and former Prisons Minister) these were not acted on.
After several years of legal appeals against her sentence, McCorkle applied to transfer to a British prison to serve the remainder of her sentence, under the terms of a reciprocal treaty with the USA. However, her application was rejected in July 2006. McCorkle reapplied for a treaty transfer in 2008 but her application was once again rejected in October of that year.
On 30 October 2008, McCorkle received a letter from the US Department of Justice Pardon Attorney's office rejecting her request for commutation of her sentence.
As of July 2009 she was an inmate at FMC Carswell
Federal Medical Center, Carswell
The Federal Medical Center Carswell in Fort Worth, Texas, is a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility that provides specialized medical and mental health services to female offenders. FMC Carswell is located in the northeast corner of Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth . Its address is...
(Fort Worth, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
) in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with an expected prison sentence expiry date of July 7, 2014. McCorkle remained in a medium-security prison, whereas William J. McCorkle
William J. McCorkle
William Joseph McCorkle is an American businessman, former real estate guru and former owner of William McCorkle Seminars. In the 1990s he and his wife Chantal created a number of late-night television infomercials, selling materials which purported to teach people how to make money buying...
(her ex-husband), had transferred to a low-security "camp" prison the previous year. McCorkle was not eligible for transfer to a lower-security prison because, as a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
citizen, she was viewed as a high flight risk
Fugitive
A fugitive is a person who is fleeing from custody, whether it be from private slavery, a government arrest, government or non-government questioning, vigilante violence, or outraged private individuals...
.
Transfer to the UK & release from prison
A subsequent request for a Treaty Transfer (i.e. to serve the remainder of her sentence in a UK prison) was approved in May 2009. In early August, McCorkle appeared at a Texas Magistrate's Court to sign legal papers formally consenting to return to the UK. By 24 August 2009 McCorkle was in transit to the UK, incarcerated first at the BOP Federal Transfer Center in Oklahoma CityOklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
and then (on 29 August) at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. On 30 September 2009 she was driven to the nearest international airport, where custody was signed over to British Prison Officers who escorted her back to the UK. After arriving at London Heathrow airport, McCorkle was transferred to HMP Holloway in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. At Holloway she was assigned the following inmate identity number: EP6484.
On 30 October 2009, McCorkle was transferred to HMP Send, near Woking
Woking
Woking is a large town and civil parish that shares its name with the surrounding local government district, located in the west of Surrey, UK. It is part of the Greater London Urban Area and the London commuter belt, with frequent trains and a journey time of 24 minutes to Waterloo station....
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
. HMP Send has a significantly lower security classification than HMP Holloway, with a much easier prison regime. In early February 2010 she was transferred to HMP East Sutton Park
East Sutton Park (HM Prison)
HM Prison East Sutton Park is a women's open prison and Young Offenders Institution, located in the village of East Sutton , in Kent, England. The prison is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service.-History:...
and assigned the inmate identity number A2760AG. HMP East Sutton Park is an "open prison" i.e. has the lowest possible security rating in the British penal system. There are no security fences surrounding the prison and, subject to conditions, inmates are able to leave the grounds for home visits. McCorkle remained at HMP East Sutton Park until her release from prison on 25 June 2010. As of September 2010 she was living with her parents in High Wycombe
High Wycombe
High Wycombe , commonly known as Wycombe and formally called Chepping Wycombe or Chipping Wycombe until 1946,is a large town in Buckinghamshire, England. It is west-north-west of Charing Cross in London; this figure is engraved on the Corn Market building in the centre of the town...
, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
and had reverted to her maiden name of "Watts".
External links
- An investigative TV report which provides details of Chantal McCorkle's illegal acts
- http://www.williamkent.com/McCorkle%20Decision%207-12-2002.htm 2002 ruling of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh CircuitUnited States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh CircuitThe United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit is a federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* Middle District of Alabama...
, affirming McCorkle's conviction but remanding for resentencing] - BBC news item - New hope for jailed British woman
- Early Day Motion #733 - in support of Chantal McCorkle
- Free Chantal Campaign - Official Supporters' Website
- Inmate Tracker - shows Chantal's record within the U.S. Bureau of Prisons system
- Tarnished gold: Fraud money in fed's hands
- Woman in advert fraud 'could be sent to UK jail'