April 9 (UPI) — A Georgia man has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for his role in a romance scam that defrauded elderly victims out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday.
Badetito O. Obafemi, 42, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The plea was entered in April 2024, and the sentence includes no possibility of parole, three years of supervised release, and $311,500 in restitution to victims in Missouri, Minnesota, and New Jersey.
Obafemi admitted to working with others between June 2016 and March 2018, using social media platforms to pose as romantic partners and emotionally manipulate victims—primarily elderly women—into sending money under false pretenses, including fabricated medical, business, and travel needs.
“Obafemi conspired with the perpetrators to receive wire transfers from the victims,” the DOJ said, detailing his role in coordinating bank account information and managing fund transfers.
One victim in Taney County, Missouri, was tricked by someone posing as “Kevin Condon” on Facebook, eventually sending over $27,400. Another attempted scam sought a $40,000 deposit to supposedly help “Condon” get released from a South African prison.
Obafemi received illicit funds through personal and business accounts tied to easyticketstravel.com and Goeasy Logistics LLC, where he was listed as President and CEO, according to LinkedIn. He also attended Southern Polytechnic State University.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, and Northfield Police Department in Minnesota, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark in Missouri’s Western District.
Officials urge the public to be aware of romance scams targeting seniors, often perpetrated through digital platforms. More information is available through the DOJ’s Elder Fraud Initiative and the Consumer Protection Branch.
