Richardson, Texas – A Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for his involvement in a romance scam that defrauded a Missouri woman out of a substantial amount of money. Rotimi Oladimeji, 38, from Richardson, Texas, faced justice one year after he admitted to multiple counts of fraud.
Oladimeji, alongside two accomplices, targeted a woman on the online dating site “Silver Singles.” They meticulously crafted a false persona, posing as a Belgian national, a veterinarian, and animal behaviorist based in St. Louis. While they made plans to meet the victim, these plans were never actualized.
The scam took a severe turn when they deceitfully claimed the fictitious man needed funds to escape an entrapment situation in the United Arab Emirates, related to a business deal. As a result of this elaborate lie, the victim suffered a financial loss of nearly $1.2 million.
Oladimeji was sentenced on Tuesday to three years in federal prison. In addition, he has been ordered to repay a portion of the stolen funds. Specifically, he is responsible for reimbursing approximately 20% of the total amount, aligning with his share of the fraudulently obtained money.
Furthermore, the U.S. Attorney’s office disclosed that Oladimeji, originally from Nigeria, faces the possibility of deportation after completing his prison term. This case serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of engaging in fraudulent activities and the severe impact such schemes can have on victims.
