Florence Mwende Musau, a Kenyan national living in the United States has been penalised and imprisoned for her role in the organisation of romance scams and widespread unemployment fraud.
Musau, 38, was sentenced to 44 months in prison by a US court. Musau was also forced to pay over $1 million (£810,000) in restitution to the victims, as well as forfeit $350,000 and a Lexus SUV.
She and five others were accused in 2021 in relation with their roles in online frauds in which victims lost more than $4 million. According to US investigators, the group utilised forged passports and many names to open bank accounts in and around Boston to collect and launder the earnings of the romance frauds.
The earnings of fake state pandemic unemployment assistance payouts in the names of victims were also obtained by her, according to the US Attorney’s Office.
“As part of the scheme, Musau used at least three different aliases to open nearly 10 fraudulent bank accounts and receive approximately $1m in fraud proceeds,” according to the statement.
