Two women have been charged by federal prosecutors over their role in a “romance scheme” that saw them trick several elderly men out of more than $7 million, according to court filings.
According to a press release from the US attorney’s office , Rosanna Lisa Stanley and Gina Guy played a role in defrauding at least 16 victims out of millions of dollars.
Their alleged scheme has also been ongoing for some time, as prosecutors said that it began in 2009 and continued until they were arrested on June 25.
The US attorney’s office shared that Stanley and Guy would lure their elderly victims “into purported romantic or close personal relationships through in-person meetings, phone calls, text messages, and an online dating platform.”
After they earned the trust of the victims, the women would use “false pretenses” to get the men to send them money. Among the fake excuses used included saying they needed more for fake businesses and organ transplants, prosecutors shared.
Now, both women are facing charges of money laundering, wire fraud, and conspiracy, according to prosecutors. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.
“As alleged, Rosanna Lisa Stanley and Gina Guy callously defrauded elderly victims who were simply looking for companionship. They allegedly used the millions of dollars in fraud proceeds to lead lives of luxury at their victims’ expense,” US Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement. “As today’s arrests demonstrate, perpetrators of romance scams will be held to account for their crimes.”
According to the complaint, in one instance, the scammers allegedly connected with an “elderly male” victim who believed he and Stanley were in an “exclusive, romantic relationship.”
Stanley allegedly asked for money for things like rent and living expenses from the man repeatedly, to which he eventually obliged.
The complaint says that the man wired Stanley thousands after she requested funds for a catering business, $220,000 of which Stanley used to pay off loans for her luxury vehicles and boat.
The victim also gave Stanley credentials for one of his credit cards and the card itself, which prosecutors say she used to rack up thousands in charges and change the account’s password.
Overall, prosecutors said the victim was duped out of at least $555,000.
Other incidents involved Stanley pretending to be a psychic and tricking a victim out of approximately $1,000,000 after saying his money was “tainted with bad influences.”
She reportedly told the victim she would hold on to it and “protect” it for him while she untainted it.
Guy is accused of defrauding four elderly male victims out of at least $908,000, saying she needed the money for different medical procedures, including a kidney transplant.
However, the complaint says after she received the money, she spent it “on non-medical personal expenses, including expensive meals, utilities, apartment rent, and luxury goods.”
“Gina Guy and Rosanna Lisa Stanley allegedly took advantage of innocent individuals seeking companionship and exploited them for their own benefit,” FBI Assistant Director in charge James Smith said in the release. “Collecting millions of dollars from their victims, the perpetrators allegedly gained and betrayed the trust of primarily elderly individuals to fund their luxury purchases.”
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