A Nigerian man who helped scammers to fleece a US woman of $1.17 million through a fake online romance has been sentenced to three years in prison by a federal judge in Missouri. Rotimi Oladimeji, 38, of Texas, was part of a criminal network that preyed on the victim, who thought she was in love with a veterinarian and animal behaviorist living in St. Louis. The fraudsters met the woman on the “Silver Singles” dating site and lured her into sending money for various reasons, such as travel expenses, medical bills, and legal fees.
Oladimeji acted as a middleman who received the money from the victim and forwarded it to his co-conspirators in Nigeria and the US. He also communicated with the victim via phone and email, pretending to be the veterinarian or his associates. The scam lasted for about a year, from October 2019 to October 2020, and left the victim financially and emotionally devastated.
US Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) tracked down Oladimeji and his accomplices after the victim reported the fraud. “Romance fraud is a serious crime that exploits vulnerable people and robs them of their hard-earned money and dignity,” said Special Agent Richard Quinn in charge of HSI St. Louis. “HSI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and the Department of Justice to identify, arrest, and prosecute these criminals who prey on unsuspecting victims.”
Oladimeji pleaded guilty to two counts of mail fraud, two counts of wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud. He was sentenced on Tuesday by US District Judge Rodney W. Sippel, who also ordered him to pay restitution to the victim. Oladimeji, who was born in Lagos, Nigeria, could face deportation after serving his sentence.
Two of his co-defendants, Olumide Akrinmade and Adewale Adesanya, both Texas residents, have also pleaded guilty and have been sentenced for their roles in the scheme. Akrinmade, 38, was sentenced to 15 months in prison and ordered to repay $46,500. Adesanya, 37, was sentenced to four years in prison and ordered to repay $1.5 million. The US Department of Justice said the investigation is ongoing and more arrests are expected.
Romance fraud is a common type of online fraud that targets people looking for love or companionship on dating sites, social media, or chat rooms. The fraudsters create fake profiles and use stolen photos and identities to lure their victims into a relationship. They then ask for money for various reasons, such as emergencies, travel, or business. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Americans reported losing more than $300 million to romance scams in 2020, up from $201 million in 2019. The FTC advises people to be wary of anyone who claims to be from another country, asks for money, or wants to move the conversation off the dating site.
The FTC also urges people to report any suspicious activity to the dating site, the FTC, and the FBI.
