Online love affair led woman to crime, one of many wrecked lives found in federal probe

CAMDEN — Federal prosecutions are wrapping up against three former and current Burlington County residents for their roles in a years-long, online scam that emptied bank accounts and broke lovelorn hearts across the country.

The defendants are Martins Friday Inalegwu, 35, formerly of Maple Shade; his wife, 27-year-old Steincy Mathieu; and Oluwaseyi Fatolu, 56, of Springfield. All have entered guilty pleas to various charges in U.S. District Court.

A court filing states that one “romance fraud” victim, after exhausting her savings and going deep in debt, embezzled millions of dollars from her employer to send to her fictitious friend.

More: State says Cinnaminson schools family leave policy likely unfair to women coaches

More: Shipyard, museum locking down final details to get battleship docked

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says the scheme started in 2016 and ran into 2020, bringing in more than $4.5 million dollars just to the three defendants. Victims were people looking to rent apartments as well as people hoping to find love with strangers from dating sites and other social media.

Federal officials say more than 100 people were victimized. Court documents show victims sent cash, checks, or wire transfers in amounts from as low as a few thousand dollars to $100,000 at a time.

Officials say most of the $4.5 million was transferred to people in Nigeria, Turkey, and other countries. Millions of dollars more went to other unnamed conspirators, as well.

“This conspiracy involved swindling, illegal money transfers, and tax evasion,” U.S. Attorney Phillip R.  Sellinger said this week.

'Romance' victim turned to crime for man wooing her online

A lengthy complaint and affidavit from Special Agent Melissa Gibson was filed in June 2020 with the District Court, just before Inalegwu was arrested in Maple Shade. It discusses the first 33 victims of Inalegwu and Mathieu.

Gibson states “Victim 1” began corresponding in September 2016 on Match.com with a “George Marek.” He purportedly was a resident of Austin, Texas. His jewelry business had taken him recently to South Africa. After six weeks of wooing, Marek began asking for money.

“In or about March 2017, after exhausting her savings, liquidating her retirement account, borrowing from friends and family, taking out a personal loan, and maxing out her credit cards, VICTIM 1, employed as the finance director, began embezzling money from her employer, VICTIM 2,” the affidavit states.

Sellinger said Inalegwu pleaded guilty on March 25 to a superseding information charging him with one count of conducting an unlawful money-transmitting business and four counts of income tax evasion. He will be sentenced on July 30.

Mathieu entered a guilty plea on Nov. 28, 2023 to two counts of an indictment charging her with tax evasion. Her sentencing date is not set.

Fatolu entered a guilty plea on Jan. 8 to an indictment charging her with operating an unlawful money-transmitting business. Her sentencing date is not set.

Newark FBI Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said romance scams “take on an insidious level of harm.”

“Few of us would want to admit we fell for this type of scam, but we’re all human and scammers prey on that fact,” Dennehy said. “The subjects are owning up to their crimes, but it may not provide much solace for the victims left broke and heartbroken.”

Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey 36 years ago, keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times.

This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Admitted South Jersey scammers took millions from victims