PHOENIX, Ariz. — A California man has been sentenced to four years in prison for his role in a romance scam scheme that defrauded two elderly women in Arizona out of more than $450,000, officials announced Friday.
Donald Franklin Huegel was sentenced by a Pima County Superior Court judge on March 26, 2025. He will also serve three years of probation after his release. A restitution hearing is still pending to determine how much Huegel must repay the victims.
A jury found Huegel guilty of multiple charges, including:
Theft
Fraudulent schemes and artifices
Illegally conducting an enterprise
Money laundering
According to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Huegel worked with co-conspirators in Africa to target elderly women using fake online dating profiles and manipulate them emotionally into sending large sums of money.
“This sentencing serves as a stark warning to those who prey on individuals through deception and fraud,” said Attorney General Kris Mayes. “We will hold you accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
Victims’ Stories:
One victim was approached online by someone using the alias “Chad Callahan.” When she initially resisted sending money, other scammers joined in, falsely claiming her identity had been exposed on the dark web. She eventually sent $90,000 to various accounts and later mailed an additional $24,000 to Huegel in a money order.
The second victim was lured through a Match.com profile under the name “Michael Williams” and ultimately sent more than $367,000 to Huegel.
The romance scams reportedly lasted over two years, leaving both victims financially devastated.
