A man from Maryland has been sentenced to over two years in federal prison and has been ordered to reimburse $180,000 for his involvement in a romance fraud scheme that specifically targeted an elderly woman residing in North Dakota.
Chinedu Nwafor, aged 42 and residing in Bowie, received his sentencing after admitting guilt to conspiracy to commit mail fraud. This information was shared by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in North Dakota.
According to court documents, elderly women were contacted by “foreign actors” on social media who would engage them in what they believed to be genuine romantic relationships.
Nwafor confessed to receiving a package from a woman residing in New Town. The package contained a cashier’s check worth $150,000, which had been fraudulently obtained by foreign actors involved in a romance scam. These scammers posed as either “General Joseph Martins” or “Diplomat David Jones,” as stated in the official statement.
A 56-year-old man from Maryland named Vitus Uzowuru admitted to aiding and abetting mail fraud. As a result, he pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced in August. Uzowuru received credit for the time already served and was also ordered to pay $50,000 in restitution.
Uzowuru, in addition, acted as a middleman based in the U.S. for both Nwafor and other individuals abroad, according to the statement. It was revealed in court documents that Uzowuru confessed to receiving a package from the woman in New Town that contained $50,000, which had been fraudulently obtained by foreign actors.
Juliet Molenda, a resident of Maryland, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2023 for her involvement in the romance scheme, according to a statement. However, court documents reveal that Molenda is currently not in custody and is under the supervision of federal authorities in Maryland. Her trial is set to commence on June 24 in Bismarck, presided over by U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland.
If Molenda is found guilty, he could potentially be sentenced to a maximum of 30 years in prison and be fined up to $1 million.
Romance fraud schemes occur frequently and are typically carried out by individuals located overseas. They often pretend to be high-ranking military officials stationed abroad. To enhance their deception, these fraudsters create fake social media or internet profiles. Their ultimate aim is to target elderly women, convincing them to send money to a U.S.-based intermediary.
According to the statement, the fraudsters often create a false narrative regarding a medical, legal, or customs problem on behalf of the fake military member.
“This sentence shows that romance scammers will face justice in United States District Court when they target the hard-earned savings of North Dakotans,” state U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider said in the statement. “It’s also a reminder to be vigilant about protecting yourself and your loved ones against schemes like this one.”