Syretta Scherer, a Resident of Snellville, GA, Member to a Romance Scam Squad, Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Commit Money Laundering: Squad Co-conspirators Consecutively Face The Scale Of Justice

According to court documents, it was revealed that Scherer established a fake company called Precise Carriers in late 2017 to facilitate her fraudulent schemes. She then proceeded to open multiple bank accounts at various banks to funnel victim funds.

A woman from Georgia has been handed a prison sentence for her involvement in a romance scam that targeted vulnerable seniors across multiple states, including Rhode Island. Syretta Scherer, aged 42 and hailing from Snellville, GA, pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy on April 28, 2023. Recently, on March 7, 2024, she was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. to nearly 46months behind bars, followed by two years of federal supervised release.

During her time as part of the scam, Scherer played a crucial role in laundering approximately $1.1 million out of the total $3 million stolen by the conspiracy. The victims, primarily widows, were targeted through internet-based romance scams. The scammers would initiate contact through app-based communication platforms often times feigning romantic intentions.

The connections were gradually building trust and convincing their victims to send money for various reasons, including fabricated medical emergencies. The funds were then directed to Scherer and other accomplices, who would deposit them into various controlled accounts before redirecting them elsewhere. This elaborate scheme defrauded seniors out of at least $5.8 million.

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According to court documents, it was revealed that Scherer established a fake company called Precise Carriers in late 2017 to facilitate her fraudulent schemes. She then proceeded to open multiple bank accounts at various banks to funnel victim funds. From February 2018 to November 2019, Scherer strategically deposited and withdrew funds from these accounts to avoid detection by banking authorities. She even went as far as depositing funds at different branches on the same day to evade suspicion. When faced with inquiries from banks, Scherer simply opened new accounts to continue her illicit activities. Additionally, she involved her friends in the scheme by having them open accounts to help launder the stolen funds.

In relation to this case, November 25th, 2019, Rhode Island U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond ordered the alleged leader of the conspiracy, Wisdom Onyobeno, 39, of Sandy Springs, GA, to remain in federal custody and be returned to Rhode Island. Onyobeno was arrested at his Georgia home on November 19, 2019, on a criminal complaint filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Rhode charging him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, mail fraud and wire fraud.

Also charged were the co-conspirators committing conspiracy to commit money laundering, mail fraud and wire fraud are Dominique Golden, and Sadae Mills, of Houston, Breauna Williams, of Atlanta, GA.

Sadae Mills, a 28-year-old resident of Houston, TX, has confessed to her involvement in a web of deceit and fraud. Over a span of three months, starting in April 2018, Mills willingly accepted payments that she knew were obtained through fraudulent means, specifically targeting women through online romance scams. These payments, often in the form of money orders, cash, or wire transfers, were then deposited into Mills' bank account.

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Acting under the instructions of her co-conspirator, Dominique Golden, Mills would either withdraw or transfer the funds, all in an attempt to conceal the true nature and origin of the money. During the period between April 25, 2018, and June 7, 2018, Mills managed to accumulate a staggering $34,710 in fraudulent proceeds, all of which found its way into her bank account. Not only did she spend a portion of these ill-gotten gains, but she also followed Golden's directions to transfer some of the funds to other banks.

Additionally, Mills withdrew cash from her account, which she then handed over to Golden.

Golden was convicted on September 1, 2022, after admitting guilt to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud. She received a sentence on January 25, 2023, of 78 months in federal prison, followed by three years of federal supervised release. Additionally, she was ordered to pay $1,263,822.54 in restitution, which were the proceeds from the romance scam that she confessed to collecting and depositing.

Co-conspirator Breauna Williams, aged 29 from Jacksonville, NC, is currently awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty on January 17, 2023, to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Williams is set to be sentenced on April 18, 2023.

Meanwhile, co-conspirator Wisdom Oghenekaro Onyobeno, aged 42 from Atlanta, GA, is awaiting trial in U.S. District Court in Providence. The trial is scheduled for May 1, 2023, and Onyobeno has been in custody since his arrest on November 19, 2019.

Court records reveal that starting in May 2015, scammers reached out to victims through various online dating sites like Plenty of Fish, Christian Mingle, and Our Time, as well as social media platforms like Words with Friends, pretending to be interested in a romantic relationship.

By using deceitful tactics, the fraudsters managed to build trust with their victims, leading them to send money to bank accounts linked to the conspiracy. So far, 28 people across multiple states have been recognized as targets of the schemes orchestrated by the five individuals implicated in the conspiracy.

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United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman commented, “It is unconscionable to prey on seniors. Scammers will confuse, lie to, and steal from their victims with total disregard for the financial and emotional ruins they leave behind. Elder abuse is a serious crime that impacts 10% of elder Americans each year. The Department of Justice and federal, state, and local law enforcement have made it a priority to root out such scammers and hold them accountable.”

“When scammers pose online as legitimate romantic partners only to manipulate victims into giving away their life savings, it creates devastating financial impacts to victims, especially our older Americans,” said Inspector in Charge Joseph W. Cronin of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to protecting our citizens and working hard to seek prosecution of scammers who take advantage of our elders.”

Court documents reveal a heartbreaking story of a 76-year-old widow from Rhode Island who fell victim to a cunning scam. She went to great lengths to secure funds, refinancing her home, selling her property in Massachusetts, and withdrawing money from her bank accounts. Over time, she ended up sending more than $660,000 to bank accounts supposedly controlled by the fraudsters.

The woman, who met someone claiming to be "General Mathew Weyer" on Words with Friends, reluctantly followed his instructions to make the transfers. Little did she know, this so-called general was nothing more than a fictional character created by the scammers.

Thanks to the diligent work of the United States Attorney's Office and the United States Postal Inspection Service, the truth behind this elaborate scheme was uncovered. All cases in connection to this charges were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Denise M. Barton and John P. McAdams.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General, and U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration in Atlanta, conducted a thorough investigation into the matter.

The Department of Justice places great importance on combating elder abuse and financial fraud targeted at seniors.

If you or someone you know has fallen victim to elder fraud, you can reach out to 1-877-FTC-HELP or visit ftc.gov/complaint for assistance. Additionally, for valuable resources on Elder Abuse Prevention and information about community outreach programs in Rhode Island, you can visit the United States Attorney’s Office’s Elder Justice Initiative web page at https://www.justice.gov/usao-ri/elder-justice.

United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman and Joseph W. Cronin, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division, express their gratitude to the FBI, U.S. Department of Labor, and U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration in Atlanta for their invaluable assistance throughout this investigation.

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