Wichita woman loses $110K in romance scam, NY man sentenced

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — A New York man will have to pay back a Wichita woman after investigators say he scammed her out of $110,000 in a romance scam.

The Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office says someone claiming to be “Victor” contacted the 78-year-old Wichita widow on social media in 2020. “Victor” convinced the woman he needed money to resolve some financial problems so they could eventually be together.

The woman sent the man a check for $110,000. The DA’s office says the check actually went to 35-year-old Jango Touray of New York City.

A financial crimes investigator froze multiple financial accounts connected to Touray. District Attorney Marc Bennett says Touray pleaded guilty earlier this year to the mistreatment of an elder person.

Judge Jeffrey Syrios sentenced Touray to three years probation and ordered him to pay back all the money. So far, the victim has received $38,000. The rest will be paid in payments over the next three years.

If Touray fails to pay the rest back, he could serve a 34-month prison sentence.

The District Attorney’s office warns people to be suspicious of requests for money from
people they meet online.

“Elderly residents who live alone can be especially vulnerable to sophisticated romance scammers that use the internet to find, befriend and defraud their victims,” the DA’s office said.

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