Seal Beach Woman Sentenced to Prison For Impersonating FBI

A Seal Beach woman convicted of impersonating an FBI agent was sentenced today to six months in federal prison and a $5,000 fine.
Karen Elaine Hanover, 44, was convicted in October in a non-jury trial before U.S. District Judge Josephine Staton Tucker. Hanover was acquitted of two counts of obstruction of justice, which spared her up to 40 more years in prison, her attorney John Early said in October.

Hanover could have faced up to three years in federal prison at today's sentencing by Tucker, Early said in October. There was no immediate response to a message left with Early today seeking comment.

Hanover, who was arrested in February, charged clients $30,000 to provide them with information about prime commercial properties, according to the FBI.

Some of her clients felt she didn't provide any services and kept their money, so they complained to the FBI.

One client said someone with a man's voice called her, claiming to be an FBI agent. The Buena Park woman said her caller ID indicated the call came from an FBI office in Los Angeles, according to the FBI.

Investigators said she used technology to spoof the origin of the call and to mask her voice and claimed to be an FBI agent so she could discourage disgruntled clients.