GA Woman Sentenced For Targeting RI Seniors In $5.8M Romance Scam

PROVIDENCE, RI — A Georgia woman who played a key role in a romance scam that defrauded seniors in several states, including Rhode Island, out of at least $5.8 million was sentenced last week to nearly four years in federal prison

Syretta Scherer, 42, of Snellville, Georgia, pleaded guilty on April 28, 2023, to conspiracy to commit money laundering. She was sentenced Thursday to 46 months in prison, followed by two years of federal probation.

Prosecutors said Scherer laundered about $1.1 million of the nearly $3 million in stolen money for members of the conspiracy, money that was stolen primarily through internet-based romance scams. To carry out the schemes, members of the conspiracy messaged victims using app-based communication platforms, then cultivated relationships of trust. They then convinced their victims that money was needed for various purposes, among them supposed serious medical issues.

Prosecutors said the scammers told their victims to send money via mail or wire transfer to various people and addresses. The money would be deposited into several bank accounts controlled by Scherer and others before being redirected elsewhere, according to prosecutors.

In late 2017, Scherer created Precise Carriers, a sham company prosecutors said she used to support her fraud scams. Prosecutors said she opened several bank accounts under Precise Carriers to deposit money from victims.

Beginning in February 2018 and continuing into November 2019, Scherer used bank accounts in her name and in the name of the sham company to deposit and withdraw victims' money, often in a structured manner to avoid bank currency transaction requirements, prosecutors said.

On various dates, Scherer deposited money from victims at several bank branches in one day to avoid questions about the amounts of the deposits and withdrawals. When some of the banks questioned her banking activity, and shut down an account, Scherer opened another account, prosecutors said.

As part of the scheme, Scherer also recruited others, including her friends, to open bank accounts that she used to launder victims' stolen money, according to prosecutors.

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