West Virginia man charged with defrauding a woman he met online in romance scam

Eugene Robert LeClear, age 52, of Wheeling, West Virginia, has been charged with allegedly defrauding a woman he met online, announced United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld.

Court documents say that LeClear began an online relationship with the victim in 2022.

LeClear allegedly began requesting money from her under the appearance that he needed money to pay for medical expenses and to post bond in a criminal action, among other false pretenses.

Officials say LeClear promised to reimburse the victim and falsely represented he had access to millions of dollars from gambling winnings and prior criminal activity. The victim lost approximately $96,000 from the scheme.

“Romance scammers are expert manipulators who develop relationships that feel very real,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “Victims are understandably reluctant to come forward because they are embarrassed, but we hope they still will so that action can be taken to prevent others from being harmed.”

LeClear was charged with five counts of wire fraud and faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each count. If convicted, a federal district court judge would determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTRF.