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Utah Woman Convicted in Online Romance Scam that Cost Victims $6M
A federal jury has convicted a 39-year-old woman from Provo, Utah, in an online romance scheme that cost dozens of victims more than $6 million.
Nelly Idowu was found guilty of one count of money laundering conspiracy and two counts of money laundering, according to court documents and evidence presented at trial.
The scam, which took place from 2017 to 2019, involved creating fake online dating profiles to befriend and romance victims, primarily single women over 65 years old.
Victims were led to believe the fake persona they were engaging with had an urgent financial need, such as helping family members with emergency medical costs or investing in unique opportunities.
Idowu and her codefendants then sent a significant amount of the victim funds to overseas accounts in China and Nigeria.
At trial, the United States presented evidence that Idowu’s personal and business accounts received more than $1 million from 2017 to 2019, and that additional amounts were received by Idowu’s coconspirators.
Victims testified they were victims of scams involving fictitious online romance partners and sent money to Idowu or her coconspirators as a result.
Idowu’s sentencing is scheduled for January 30, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. in courtroom 3.4 before Senior U.S. District Court Judge Ted Stewart at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
Codefendants Emmanuel Osaigbovo Adesotu, Nnamdi Joel Chukwu, and Julius Omene Fredrick were each previously convicted by guilty plea to a money laundering conspiracy.
Adesotu was sentenced to a term of 36 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay $6.3 million in restitution jointly with codefendants.
Fredrick was sentenced to a term of 46 months’ imprisonment.
Chukwu’s sentencing is set for January 16, 2024.
U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins for the District of Utah made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office.
Assistant United States Attorneys Carl LeSueur and Mark Woolf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah presented the case at trial.
The FBI encourages those engaged in online relationships to review and become familiar with information about romance scams on its website FBI.gov.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of elder fraud, help is available at the National Elder Fraud Hotline 833-FRAUD-11 or 833-372-8311 and online at the Office for Victims of Crime.
Key Facts
- State: Utah
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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