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Judge sentenced Austin-based money launderer to federal prison for romance scams

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the individual scammed American citizens of more than $1 million and officials said one woman took her own life after she learned she was a victim of the romance scam.

AUSTIN — A federal judge sentenced Kingsley Otuya, 34, to 135 months in prison Tuesday for a million dollar money laundering scheme that involved romance scams, according to the United States Attorney's Office.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said Otuya scammed American citizens out of more than $1 million from the romance schemes and would withdraw the funds from their bank accounts. Otuya reportedly also used fake passports to open accounts under fake names in Austin.

Otuya would then allegedly send the money to coconspirators and was paid a fee for the fraud proceeds.

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A woman took her own life after she learned she was a victim of the romance scam, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. The woman reportedly lost hundreds of thousands of dollars and was emotionally devastated. The U.S. Attorney's Office said several victims also faced financial hardships because of the scams.

“This case brutally illustrates how fraud schemes hurt victims not only financially but also emotionally,” said U.S. Attorney John F. Bash. “We will remain steadfast in our efforts to protect Americans from transnational criminal conspiracies.”

According to court records, Otuya could face deportation back to his homeland of Nigeria as a result of this conviction.

Nigerian Romance Scam by kvuenews on Scribd

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