Former New Bedford ‘Romance Swindler’ Sentenced to Three Years

A former New Bedford man was convicted Friday for his involvement in a wire fraud and money laundering scheme involving victims of “romance scams,” authorities said.

Chukwunonso “Douglas” Umegbo, also known as James Abbott, Michael Phillips or Richard Armani, pleaded guilty in January to six counts of making a false statement to a bank, two counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering, according to a press release. from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Umegbo, 38, was sentenced to more than three years in prison, followed by one year of supervised release, according to the release. He was also ordered to pay restitution and forfeiture of approximately $578,000, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Officials say Umbego used bank accounts under false identities to obtain money using online personas to create fake romantic relationships with people in the United States.

Once the money in the bank account was tampered with, Umegbo withdrew money and then purchased cashier’s checks or spent the money, according to the release.

Officials said accounts received totaled more than $568,000 from these scams. Even after Umegbo left the United States, he continued to receive information about his accounts from co-conspirators in Massachusetts, according to the release.

Umegbo was arrested in London in April 2022 and extradited in February 2023. He remains in federal custody.