BRONX, NY – Nadine Jazimne Wade, 30, of the Bronx, will spend the next 63 months in federal prison after being convicted of laundering over $2 million for international romance scammers. The sentencing, handed down by U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla, concludes a two-week trial that exposed Wade’s central role in a sophisticated fraud operation preying on vulnerable Americans.
The scheme, operating between 2016 and 2021, involved co-conspirators based in Nigeria and South Africa who crafted online personas – using aliases like “Diego Francisco” and “Richard Francisco” – to woo victims on dating websites. Once a romantic connection was established, the scammers would request money, directing victims to transfer funds into bank accounts controlled by Wade and her associates. The targets? Primarily elderly men and women, easily manipulated by the promise of love and companionship.
Wade didn’t just hold the money; she actively laundered it. Prosecutors detailed how she used a shell company, brazenly named “Royal Treasure Chest LLC,” purportedly selling women’s clothing, to funnel the illicit funds. Once deposited into accounts under her control, the money was rapidly drained through cash withdrawals, cashier’s checks, and the purchase of vehicles. After skimming her cut, Wade then transferred the remaining proceeds to other members of the criminal network. Over the course of the scheme, Wade controlled more than 18 bank accounts that received over $2 million in deposits from victims.
“This criminal ran a de facto clearing house for an international fraud ring, laundering the proceeds of deception through a shell company she had the gall to name ‘Royal Treasure Chest,’” stated Patrick Freaney, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s New York Field Office. “The lengthy prison sentence and millions of dollars in both forfeiture and restitution reflect the ruin these crimes foisted upon innocent victims.” U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the cruelty of targeting the elderly. “Nadine Wade used lies and deception to launder over two million dollars for scam artists in Nigeria and South Africa,” Clayton said. “Today’s sentence should be a reminder that this Office will pursue all persons who participate in online scams targeting our elderly.”
Beyond the prison term, Judge Failla ordered Wade to serve three years of supervised release and pay restitution totaling $1,772,618. She also faces a $2,261,791 forfeiture order, stripping her of the ill-gotten gains. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Micah F. Fergenson, Matthew J. King, and Dina McLeod, with the U.S. Secret Service and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, providing crucial investigative support.
The conviction of Wade serves as a stark warning: facilitating these types of scams carries severe consequences. While the scammers themselves remain at large, this sentence sends a clear message that those who enable their crimes will be brought to justice, and the financial devastation they inflict will not go unpunished. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York continues to aggressively pursue these cases, protecting vulnerable citizens from predatory online schemes.
Related Federal Cases
- Kenneth Thom Admits $2M Investment Scam, Manhattan NY, 2023 · North Carolina
- Christopher Ferguson, PPE Scam, New York NY, 2023 · Texas
- Kenneth Thom Pleads Guilty to Investment Scam, New York NY, 2026 · Oregon
- Ted Albin, Medicare Scam Mastermind, New York NY, 2023 · Connecticut
- Michael Smith, AI-Fueled Streaming Scam, New York NY, 2023 · North Carolina
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News