AUBREY, Texas — An Aubrey woman will serve 10 years in prison after being convicted of defrauding elderly victims in romance schemes, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigh Simonton announced.
Ijeoma Okoro, 33, was convicted by a jury of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering in December last year, after being indicted in September 2021.
Evidence presented at the trial showed Okoro and others took on fake names and searched for targets on dating sites like Match.com and Zoosk.
After ingratiating themselves to victims, often divorced or widowed, with promises of long-term commitment, officials said the fraudsters would concoct elaborate stories about needing financial assistance. Often they would say they had to travel overseas for work and were unable to access their bank accounts, or that they had a sudden family medical emergency, then asked the victims for money to cover the expenses, and promises to repay them later.
Some victims sent thousands of dollars to bank accounts opened by Okoro and others, which were then distributed among coconspirators, officials said.
A sentencing enhancement was also applied during sentencing, officials added, finding Okoro had committed perjury while testifying that she hadn't conspired with anyone to commit fraud or money laundering.
Four other codefendants have been convicted in the scheme as well, whose sentences range from 24 months to 37 months in prison. There is one remaining indicted codefendant, Chukwuemeka Orji, who officials say remains a fugitive.
IRS - Criminal Investigation led the case with help from the FBI's Frisco Field Office, as well as the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Labor - Office of the Inspector General.
