The victims were from Rhode Island, Tennessee, North Carolina, California, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Arizona, Texas, Idaho and the Dakota.
Providence, Rhode Island – A Texas man has pleaded guilty to his role in a romance scam in which women from across the country were cheated out of a total of $1.6 million by someone often posing as a US Army general.
The above video is about how scammers used Zelle to clean out one man’s bank account.
Fola Alabi, also known as Flemmi Albi, 52, pleaded guilty in US District Court in Rhode Island last week to conspiracy and money laundering, federal prosecutors said in a statement Monday.
According to prosecutors, it is often someone posing as a general stationed abroad who befriends women online, then gradually gains their trust by feigning romantic or personal interests.
The women, often in their 70s and 80s and widowed or divorced, were persuaded to send cash or checks to addresses and businesses controlled by Alaby, who lived in Richmond, Texas, near Houston.
Prosecutors said the money was then deposited into bank accounts he also controlled, before being quickly withdrawn or transferred.
Prosecutors said federal agents who searched Alaby’s mobile phone found photos and videos of packages containing cash and checks he received from some of the victims.
Authorities said the victims were from Rhode Island, Tennessee, North Carolina, California, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Arizona, Texas, Idaho and South Dakota.
An Arizona woman lost $334,000, according to an affidavit filed in the case. The affidavit said she “felt ashamed, embarrassed, and guilty about being scammed” and did not have enough money to buy food or pay the bills as a result.
Authorities said a Rhode Island woman sent a check for $60,000 and was going to send an additional $240,000, but her bank determined she might be a victim of fraud, suspended her account and called the police.
Sentencing is scheduled for April 25.
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