The seven defendants created fake profiles on dating sites, sometimes using images of government officials or models, the Justice Department said. The defendants would carry on relationships for months over online messaging, texts and phone calls, tricking "lonely individuals into giving them money," U.S. Attorney Byung J. "BJay" Pak said in the release.
“Some victims lost hundreds of thousands of dollars from their retirement savings or inheritances,” Pak said.
After gaining love and trust over multiple months, the defendants would create “elaborate false stories” in order to convince victims to send them money via wire or online transfers, according to the release. Between the seven, they are charged with 60 counts of wire fraud, money laundering, identity theft and use of false passports.
The defendants are:
- Olu Victor Alonge, a.k.a Serge Damessi, a.k.a. Didier Baraze, a.k.a. Mobo Marcus Adeh, a.k.a. Ayo Baraze, a.k.a. Nicolas Soglo, 34, of Newnan
- Ugochukwu Lazarus Onebunne, a.k.a. Policap Tizhe, a.k.a. Saheed Ademoha, 41, of Douglasville, Georgia.
- Olajide Olalekan Adara, a.k.a. Kelvin Mensah, 33, of Loganville, Georgia.
- Joshua Adedeji Ipoade, 28, of Atlanta.
- Oladunni Temitope Oladipupo, 24, of Lynn, Massachusetts.
Two other defendants have not been apprehended, and their identities have not been made public.
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