Helen Grace Caldwell, a 58-year-old financial advisor from Chicago, has been charged with wire fraud in federal court for allegedly defrauding clients of nearly $1.5 million. Caldwell, who worked as a senior financial advisor for a bank, is accused of soliciting clients, including elderly individuals, to invest in her purported movie production company, Canal Productions LLC. From 2014 to 2023, she allegedly convinced victims to liquidate their assets to fund these movie investments, knowing that the funds would be used for her personal benefit. The scheme resulted in defrauding three clients of approximately $1,480,500. Wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and arraignment has not yet been scheduled.