BOSTON – Florence Mwende Musau, a 36-year-old Kenyan national, has pleaded guilty to her role in a fraud conspiracy involving romance scams that targeted individuals in the United States.
According to federal authorities, Musau and five others were charged in connection with their roles in online scams that collectively defrauded victims of more than $4 million.
The romance scams were designed to deceive victims into sending money to bank accounts controlled by Musau and others, who used fake online identities to gain their trust.
Musau, who previously resided in Canton, used fake passports in the names of numerous aliases to open bank accounts in and around Boston to collect and launder the proceeds of the romance scams.
She then executed large cash withdrawals from those accounts, often multiple times on a single day, in an effort to evade detection and currency transaction reporting requirements.
The charge of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud carries a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, a fine of up to $1 million or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, restitution, and forfeiture.
U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs has scheduled sentencing for October 14, 2021. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ian Stearns is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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