PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) -- An Atlanta man who exploited elders in Rhode Island, as well as other states, out of millions of dollars through a romance scam and money laundering conspiracy, was sentenced Tuesday to more than 10 years in federal prison.
Wisdom Oghenekaro Onyobeno, 44, and his co-conspirators created false personas on multiple online games, such as Words with Friends, or dating apps to befriend and target elder widows and divorcees.
They would then use use fake scenarios and emotional appeals to gain trust, and convinced their victims to send money for help with a supposed personal crisis or urgent financial situation, according to the Department of Justice.
In some cases, they falsely claimed to be military members that needed to travel back to the U.S, contractors stuck on oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, or government officials that needed to deliver packages from overseas .
Onyobeno and his crew instructed the victims to mail checks, money orders, or cashier's checks to post office boxes or to wire money to bank accounts managed by conspirators, according to the DOJ.
As part of the money laundering conspiracy, they created false business entities and bank accounts into which victim funds were deposited, and later withdrawn.
Onyobeno pleaded guilty on April 28, 2023, to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, and wire fraud.
According to the DOJ, victims have lost more than $5.8 million.
The defendant was sentenced to 121 months of incarceration, followed by three years of federal supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha tells Rhode Island residents to "be skeptical of requests for funds from anyone you don't know well, and take steps to protect yourself."