Two women, Rosanna Lisa Stanley and Gina Guy, have been charged with defrauding at least 16 elderly men out of over $7 million in a yearslong romance scheme, spanning from 2009 until their arrest this year. They lured their victims into romantic or personal relationships through in-person meetings, phone calls, and online dating platforms, convincing them to send money under false pretenses for fake businesses and medical procedures. The women are facing charges of money laundering, wire fraud, and conspiracy, each carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Stanley allegedly conned one victim out of over $555,000 by falsely claiming she needed money for rent and living expenses, while also using his credit card to pay off loans for her luxury car and boat. Guy defrauded four victims out of over $908,000 by claiming she needed money for medical procedures but using it for personal expenses. They also convinced another victim to send thousands for a dressmaking business purchase in New York City.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams stated that romance scammers will be held accountable for their crimes, emphasizing that Stanley and Guy exploited victims simply seeking companionship for their own luxury lifestyles. FBI Assistant Director James Smith condemned the exploitation of primarily elderly individuals and the betrayal of their trust for financial gain. The defendants’ legal representation was not immediately clear.
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