ST. LOUIS — A St. Louis County woman is facing serious prison time after pleading guilty for her involvement in a $1 million Nigerian romance scam.
Shirley Waller, 43, admitted in court to one count of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy involving mail fraud, wire fraud, and the use of an alias to deceive victims.
Federal prosecutors said Waller played a crucial role in helping international scammers target victims, mostly elderly, through fake online romances. One 71-year-old victim contacted authorities after unknowingly sending more than $35,000 to Waller’s address. Investigators later traced the funds to Nigerian IP addresses within 24 hours of delivery.
Detectives discovered that Waller’s home received over 70 Express Mail packages in just two months. A search of her residence uncovered large amounts of mail from victims across the country.
Authorities revealed Waller moved the stolen funds overseas using methods such as cryptocurrency. She also fraudulently secured a $19,000 loan by falsely claiming to be a business owner in Michigan. The money was then transferred to locations including Nigeria, Ghana, Germany, and Jamaica.
In another fraudulent act, Waller allegedly misrepresented her marital status, job, and income to obtain a $196,000 loan.
Waller is scheduled for sentencing on September 29, with each conviction carrying up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
