COVENTRY, RI— An Indiana woman was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury after prosecutors said she scammed a 96-year-old Coventry widower out of $80,000 in an online romance scam.
Brittany Rakia Shawnai Lasley, 32, of Anderson, Indiana, was charged with five counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Federal prosecutors said Lasley created a fake profile on the dating website Plenty of Fish. Lasley used the fake profile to lure her victim into responding and persuading him to provide her with money, credit cards, gift cards and personal information, according to prosecutors. Prosecutors said Lasley led the victim to believe that providing her with these items would facilitate meetings between the two and foster a romantic relationship.
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According to prosecutors, Lasley also persuaded the victim to provide her with money for home improvements, medical treatment and travel to Rhode Island. This was done through the authorization of more than 50 prepaid gift cards, prosecutors said.
Additionally, Lasley gained access to her victim’s credit card and checking account and used them to make numerous unauthorized purchases, prosecutors said. She also got access to one of the victim’s credit cards by fraudulently representing herself as his daughter, prosecutors said.
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Lasley is currently detained in Indiana state custody in Indiana on unrelated charges
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