2 FL Men Charged In Romance Scam That Targeted NJ Elderly: Feds

NEW JERSEY - Two Florida men were charged with plotting to launder at least $2.7 million taken from victims of romance scams across the U.S., many of whom were elderly, federal officials said.

Marlin Perra, 63, of Lake Panasoffkee, Florida, and Leslie Lallande, 65, of Pompano Beach, Florida, were arrested Monday in Florida and charged with money laundering conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced. Multiple wire transfers included requests that went through a Federal Reserve facility in New Jersey, Sellinger added.

Both individuals are slated to have their initial appearances in New Jersey federal court at a later date.

According to federal court records, Perra and Lallande laundered the romance scam profits and the proceeds of other fraud scams through trade-based laundering. Specifically, Perra and Lallande tried to hide the proceeds by claiming that entities they controlled were in the business of buying and shipping used cars.

Lallande and co-conspirators went a step further to execute fraud agreements that feigned signatures from victims agreeing to invest in Lallande’s alleged automobile business.

“In fact, these agreements were phony cover stories designed to paper over their receipt and movement of the romance scam proceeds,” federal officials said.

The money laundering conspiracy charge has a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $500,000, or twice the value of the funds involved in the transfer, whichever is greater.