US authorities have arrested a Texas man allegedly involved in a scheme that defrauded elderly victims out of $915,301. Authorities have charged the suspect with wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud and money laundering.
The 51-year-old defendant was allegedly a part of a scheme in which a co-conspirator posed as a high-ranking military officer stationed overseas to befriend unsuspecting seniors online.
The co-conspirator would deceive the seniors by pretending to have a personal and/or romantic interest in them. After gaining their trust, the co-conspirator would convince the victims to transfer money to companies that the defendant/co-conspirators controlled. Allegedly, the defendant would then quickly withdraw or transfer the sum to other accounts.
Source: US Department of Justice
