Donald Franklin Huegel has been sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted for his part in a romance scam that defrauded two elderly Arizonans, the Arizona Attorney General’s …
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Man sentenced in Arizona elderly romance scam
(Metro Creative Content)
Posted
INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA
Donald Franklin Huegel has been sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted for his part in a romance scam that defrauded two elderly Arizonans, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office announced.
For two years, authorities said, Huegel, a California resident, participated in the criminal enterprise by funneling money from victims to his co-conspirators in Africa.
The victims were each contacted by someone posing as a romantic interest online, who fostered a relationship and then began to ask the victim to send money to different accounts, authorities said.
The first victim responded to a fake online profile and began a romantic dialogue with someone she believed was named "Chad Callahan," who asked her for money to assist him personally.
When she resisted providing more money, she was contacted by other members of the romance scam who told her that her identity had been placed on the Dark Web, according to a release from the AG’s office.
The victim sent thousands of dollars to get her identity allegedly cleared from the Dark Web. In total, the victim sent more than $90,000 to four different accounts.
The romance scammers also preyed upon a second elderly Arizona victim who sent more $367,000 to Huegel. She was also taken in by a fake profile for "Michael Williams" on Match.com, authorities said.
The scams Huegel participated in stole nearly $400,000 from elderly Arizona victims, according to the release. He was convicted by a jury of fraudulent schemes and artifices, illegally conducting an enterprise, money laundering and theft.
Pima County Superior Court Judge Richard Gordon sentenced Huegel to prison last month, and he will be on three years’ probation following being released.
A hearing will be set to determine restitution for the victims.
"Criminals defrauding elderly individuals should be put on notice that my office will find you, and we prosecute you," Attorney General Mayes said.
"No Arizonan deserves to be manipulated emotionally and defrauded of their hard-earned money – especially elderly Arizonans. This sentencing serves as a stark warning to those who prey on individuals through deception and fraud: We will hold you accountable to the fullest extent of the law."
