Rhode Island Senior Targeted In Multi-Million-Dollar Romance Scam

PROVIDENCE, RI — Five people are facing charges in Rhode Island federal court in connection with an online dating scam that targeted more than two dozen people, many of whom are elderly, out of more than $2 million dollars.

According to court documents, the scam began in May 2015, when the victims were identified through dating sites such as Plenty of Fish, Christian Mingle and Our Time, along with social media platforms including Words With Friends. Over time, the scammers gained the trust of their victims, often pretending to be romantically interested, Rhode Island U.S. Attorney Aaron Weisman's office said in a release. Eventually, they convinced their victims to send money.

"It is unconscionable to prey on seniors. Scammers will confuse, lie to, and steal from their victims with total disregard for the financial and emotional ruins they leave behind," Weisman said. "Elder abuse is a serious crime that impacts 10 percent of elder Americans each year. The Department of Justice and federal, state and local law enforcement have made it a priority to root out such scammers and hold them accountable."

In all, 28 people across more than a dozen states were targeted by the scam. Here in Rhode Island, a 76-year-old widow sent more than $660,000 to bank accounts believed to be controlled by the scammers. To afford it, she refinanced her home, sold property she owned in Massachusetts and took money out of her own bank accounts. She said she "reluctantly" sent the money to a "General Mathew Weyer," who claimed to be a member of the U.S. Army stationed in Afghanistan.

The U.S. Attorney's Office and Postal Inspection Service determined that "Weyer" does not exist, and is the name used by the accused scammers while communicating with the victim.

"When scammers pose online as legitimate romantic partners only to manipulate victims into giving away their life savings, it creates devastating financial impacts to victims, especially our older Americans," Joseph W. Cronin, the inspector in charge with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division. "The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to protecting our citizens and working hard to seek prosecution of scammers who take advantage of our elders."

Wisdom Onyobeno, 39, of Sandy Springs, Georgia, is believed to be the leader of the conspiracy. On Monday, he was ordered to remain in prison and be returned to Rhode Island by Rhode Island U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Lincoln Almond. Onyobeno was arrested at his home in Georgia on Nov. 19 and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, mail fraud and wire fraud.

Four others face the same charges: Dominique Golden, 28, and Sadae Mills, 24, of Houston, Texas, Breauna Williams, 25, of Atlanta, Georgia and Syretta Scherer, of Sandy Springs, Georgia.

Mills and Golden were indicted by a federal grand jury in Providence on Oct. 3 on charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, nine counts of mail fraud and six counts of wire fraud. Both were arraigned in federal court in Providence on Oct. 30 and released on bond.

Scherer was arrested on Nov. 19 and appeared in federal court in Georgia before being released on bond.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Williams.