Kenyan Woman in the US Sentenced for Role in Fraud Conspiracy Involving Romance scams
A court in the Massachusetts on Tuesday sentenced a 38-year-old Kenyan woman for her role in a fraud conspiracy involving romance scams and pandemic unemployment fraud.
Florence Mwende Musau of Canton, MA was sentenced by US District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to 44 months in prison and 30 months of supervised release.
She was further ordered to pay approximately $957,000 in restitution and to forfeit approximately $350,000 and a Lexus SUV.
Musau, who was charged in 2021, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud.
Musau participated in a conspiracy involving romance scams and other online frauds designed to deceive victims into sending money to bank accounts controlled by her and her accomplices, according to the US Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts.
“Criminals perpetrating romance scams create fictitious profiles on online dating or social media websites, gain the trust of potential victims and then direct those victims to transfer money under false pretenses,” the US Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts noted.
To further the conspiracy, Musau used fake passports in the names of numerous aliases to open bank accounts in and around Boston to receive the proceeds of the romance scams.
She then made large cash withdrawals from those accounts in tranches of less than $10,000 in order to avoid detection and currency transaction reporting requirements.
Musau also received the proceeds of fraudulent state pandemic unemployment assistance benefits in the names of victims.
“As part of the scheme, Musau used at least three different aliases to open nearly ten fraudulent bank accounts and receive approximately $1 million in fraud proceeds,” the US Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts added.
Comments (16)
"Hustler."
Knowing how many Kenyans emotionally torment those who fail in the diaspora, imagine the shame and stigma of deportation after incarceration with zero $ after having splashed illegal cash trying to impress friends and families back home. I will continue wiping ass at my nursing home job na niendelee na mijengo yangu Kawangware na Mai Mahiu.
Can you imagine?
Now, those land sellers and builders in Kenya are worse conmen or even outright thieves. They work with some people here in the US to con some unsuspecting land buyers back in Kenya. A buddy just got conned over shs 10 million which he sent home to a builder to set up sone rental property for him. Beware folks when you are dealing with builders back in Kenya.
Ah mlandizi!
Karibu mai mahiu bwana
Wachana na wajinga ama naysayers
Mai mahiu ni home!
This lunatic should be jailed for a life time. She thought she had it packed but the American system of justice nabbed her ass. She should be given a treasonable sentence.
Oh wow,catfishing was notoriously popularized by nijas in the 90s,and quite afew made off with cash from gullible lonely people ,especially women.As the scams got exposed,people wisened up,and the scams simmered...
There is always a tendency to blame the victim for what should have clearly been avoided.Well some of us see things clearer than others for sure.But I think we can all agree that some scams are pretty convincing,and when you target the vulnerable, you stand a better chance of scoring. As they say, a fish sees only the bait...
And yes, fish eventually learns to a void the baits.And that spells doom for the the Mwendes...
Comrade Maxiley,
Same s$$t, just a different setting.
I bet all of us had at one time encountered with one. But just just use reverse psychology on them.
@ Kora Kanini, what I dont understand is why perpetrators of this kind of crimes think that they can get away. Or is it a question of risk Vs reward?
Crime pays but it costs more in the end. Short lived fancy life
What the hell is going on with Kenyans in America? Every tuen you make you hear Kenyans doing corrupt things and conning others. Mostly women are every where bad situations occur. Stop this nonsense folks because it is giving our country a bad name. This is the same thing that caused the world to fear Nigerian for being cons and thieves. Work hard for your living and stop being corrupt; gheee weeee!!
This lady wins the FEMME FATALE award of the month. Again I reminder readers that this infamous award is to bring to light the most shocking crime of the month committed by a Kenyan woman,wherever.And to show those who still think that women are the softer, gentler,and kinder gender to rethink again. They have infiltrated in crimes that used to be a preserve for men with vengeance .But most importantly to alert society to the negative effect this evil would to society if both Mama na Baba are criminals.Who will inculcate good morals?
@Josie, I agree with you. These people are spoiling the name of Kenyans. What’s up with this American Greed? Now, Kenyans name will go viral for unpopular things. People should work hard and stop this notion of quick money. How can people be so lucky to come to US then start doing bad things? Do they know how many people dream of stepping their feet to the land of Milk & Honey?
These kind of criminals make me very sick! I hope she gets jailed for a long time. No wonder even married Kenyan women are hosing their husbands too. Is it girl power to be a criminal these days? Nonsense!
@ Josh, that's why I have the FEMME FATALE monthly award for women(Kenyan).Anyway, about hosing husbands, men are wisening up,but ofcourse there will always be afew "simps"...And there is always asucker born every day...
This week there was an article in the Daily Nation ,I believe titled something like," Why men are not including their spouses in Investiments".Need I say more...?
Ice please note down her release date. Direct flight from New York back to Ukambani