Michigan photographer sentenced to 5 years for scamming family of $4.6M by claiming funds would support child's modelling, spending $200K on Taylor Swift tickets

Michigan photographer Chanise Coyne, 46, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for defrauding a local family of more than $4.6 million through a child modelling scheme. Coyne pleaded guilty to wire fraud on May 19, 2026, after admitting that she falsely claimed the money would cover advance fees for the family's young daughter's participation in modelling events across the US. According to the US Department of Justice (DOJ), Coyne created fake text messages, emails and invoices to support the supposed modelling placements. She used the proceeds for personal expenses, including gambling and more than $200,000 in Taylor Swift concert tickets in Florida. The court ordered her to pay $4,669,962.76 in restitution and serve three years of supervised release.How Coyne carried out the $4.6 million modelling fraudAccording to federal prosecutors, Coyne falsely represented that the family’s payments would cover advance fees linked to their daughter’s participation in modelling events across the country. She created fraudulent records, including text messages, emails and invoices, to make the supposed opportunities appear legitimate. Coyne admitted that the money was not used to place the girl in a single modelling event. Instead, she diverted the funds for her personal benefit, according to the DOJ’s sentencing announcement.Gambling and expensive Taylor Swift concert ticketsFederal prosecutors said Coyne spent significant amounts of the fraud proceeds on gambling. She also used more than $200,000 to purchase Taylor Swift concert tickets in Florida. The money obtained through the alleged modelling arrangements was redirected towards personal spending rather than the opportunities promised to the family. Coyne was arrested and charged in February 2026. The indictment included seven counts of wire fraud and five counts of money laundering. Prosecutors alleged that she created false records connected to the modelling placements and impersonated a third party. The indictment also described significant gambling expenditures, including transactions involving the online sports betting platform FanDuel. Coyne later pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.Coyne pleaded guilty in May 2026On May 19, 2026, Coyne admitted that she obtained more than $4.6 million from a local family by falsely claiming that the funds would cover advance fees for their daughter’s participation in modelling events.She also admitted creating fake communications and invoices connected to the supposed placements. The DOJ confirmed that none of the money was used to place the girl in a modelling event.Photographer receives five-year prison sentenceA federal court sentenced Coyne on September 22, 2026, to five years in prison. She was also ordered to pay $4,669,962.76 in restitution and serve three years of supervised release after her imprisonment. US Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. said Coyne used a child’s aspirations to conceal a multimillion-dollar fraud against the family. Jennifer Runyan, special agent in charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, said the scheme exploited the family’s trust for financial gain.Earlier controversy involving Santa Claus photographyBefore the federal case became public, Coyne’s photography business was involved in a separate controversy concerning a cancelled Santa Claus photography session in November 2024.FOX 2 Detroit reported that Coyne cancelled the sessions and claimed that the Santa involved had mpox. The station also spoke to the Santa, who showed messages related to the dispute. According to the report, Coyne returned the money to the Macomb Township family involved.Customers reported complaints about cancelled sessionsFOX 2 Detroit reported mixed online reviews of Coyne’s photography business, including complaints from customers who said their sessions had been cancelled and that they had not received refunds. The station also reported the existence of a private Facebook group named Chanise Coyne Scam Victims, which had 99 members when the report was published in May 2026. These complaints formed part of the wider public controversy surrounding her photography business but were separate from the federal charges described in the indictment.The FBI investigated the multimillion-dollar fraud scheme. Assistant US Attorney Andrew J. Yahkind prosecuted the case, while Assistant US Attorney Kelly Fasbinder handled related forfeiture matters. The sentencing followed Coyne’s guilty plea and concluded the federal prosecution involving the money obtained through the false child modelling arrangements.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.