A Georgia man has been sentenced to federal prison for his involvement in an online romance scam that defrauded elderly victims in multiple states.
Badetito O. Obafemi, 42, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 24 months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Obafemi to serve three years of supervised release following his imprisonment and to pay $311,520 in restitution to the victims.
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Obafemi had pleaded guilty on April 18, 2024, to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. He admitted to participating in a scheme that targeted victims in Taney County, Missouri; Northfield, Minnesota; and Bergen County, New Jersey, from June 2016 through at least March 2018.
The scheme involved perpetrators using online communication to establish relationships with the victims. After gaining the victims’ trust, the scammers would request money for various fabricated reasons, including business expenses, medical bills, travel costs, and food.
Court records detailed that the Taney County victim was contacted via Facebook in May 2016 by someone claiming to be “Kevin Condon.” Through subsequent conversations, “Condon” persuaded the victim to send money for overseas business ventures and medical needs.
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A total of $27,460 was stolen from this victim. “Condon” also attempted to convince the victim to deposit $40,000 into an account controlled by Obafemi, allegedly to secure “Condon’s” release from a supposed jail in South Africa.
Obafemi’s role in the conspiracy involved receiving wire transfers from the victims. He coordinated the bank account information, the timing of the transfers, and the movement of funds across different accounts. He received funds in his personal accounts and in accounts belonging to two businesses he owned and operated from his Georgia residence: EasyTickets, LLC, and Goeasy Logistics, LLC.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark and investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, and the Northfield, Minn., Police Department.
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