Home Industries Law Man given 10-year prison sentence for role in online romance scam

Man given 10-year prison sentence for role in online romance scam

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PBN Staff

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10/09/2024

9EcP8RiM-PVMYynWF-gceDU78f-svXubYP8-courthouse-1 — WISDOM OGHENEKARO Onyobeno, of Atlanta, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his part in an online romance scam that cheated numerous elderly women, including Rhode Island residents, out of millions of dollars. / COURTESY U.S. DISTRICT COURT

PROVIDENCE – An Atlanta man was sentenced to more than 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty in an online romance scam in which elderly women, including Rhode Island residents, were cheated out of a total of $5.8 million, U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island Zachary A. Cunha announced Tuesday. Wisdom Oghenekaro Onyobeno, 44, pleaded

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PROVIDENCE – An Atlanta man was sentenced to more than 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty in an online romance scam in which elderly women, including Rhode Island residents, were cheated out of a total of $5.8 million, U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island Zachary A. Cunha announced Tuesday. Wisdom Oghenekaro Onyobeno, 44, pleaded guilty on in April 2023, to charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. He was sentenced Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island to 121 months in federal prison followed by three years of federal supervised release. According to court documents, Onyobeno and others created false personas and utilized a variety of online apps, games and dating applications to befriend and target potential victims. Emotional appeals were used to gain their victims’ trust and persuade them to send money to help with a personal crisis or urgent financial situation. In some instances, conspirators falsely claimed to be military members stationed overseas who needed funds to send their belongings home or to travel back to the U.S. or they claimed to be U.S. contractors stuck on oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. Victims were instructed to mail checks, money orders, or cashier’s checks to post office boxes or to wire money to bank accounts managed by members of the conspiracy, including Onyobeno. Once these funds were obtained, Onyobeno and others created business entities and bank accounts into which the funds were deposited and later withdrawn. “To those who believe that they can help themselves to the hard-earned savings of Rhode Islanders through deception and fraud, wherever you are, know that we will find you and bring you to justice,” Cunha said. “And to members of the public, I implore you [to] be skeptical of requests for funds from anyone you don’t know well and take steps to protect yourself.” Another conspirator, Dominique Golden, 31, of Houston, was convicted in September 2023 after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud. She was sentenced on Jan. 25 to 78 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of federal supervised release. She was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1.2 million.