IN Woman Sentenced For Scamming Elderly Coventry Widower Looking For Love

COVENTRY, RI— An Indiana woman was sentenced Wednesday to three years in federal prison after admitting she scammed a 96-year-old Coventry widower out of $80,000 in an online romance scam.

Brittany Rakia Shawnai Lasley, 33, of Anderson, Indiana, pleaded guilty in September 2023 to wire fraud.

Lasley admitted she 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. She admitted she led the victim to believe that providing her with these items would facilitate meetings between the two and foster a romantic relationship.

During Wednesday’s sentencing hearing, a federal prosecutor quoted from a victim impact statement submitted to the court by the 96-year-old victim, who wrote that he "was in shock and disbelief. It took me a few days to comprehend what had happened. I was embarrassed, horrified, and distressed about my financial situation, fearing that I could lose the house I had lived in since 1970."

"This defendant preyed on a vulnerable, elderly Rhode Islander, dangling the promise of love and companionship in an attempt to help herself to her victim's hard-earned savings," U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha. "With this sentence, it is Ms. Lasley who will deservedly pay the price for her appalling conduct. I commend the exceptional work of this team of law enforcement professionals- state, federal, and local, for bringing this defendant to justice."

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.

Following Lasley's sentence, she must serve three years of federal supervised release.

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