D.C. auditor involved in romance scheme, prosecutors say
The man who allegedly ran the scheme, a government contractor and a special deputy U.S. marshal, struck up relationships with women online, often posing as a U.S. Armed Forces member serving overseas before bilking them, according to criminal complaints filed in federal court in Greenbelt, Md., last week.“If you find yourself in an online relationship and you’re asked for a bunch of money, it’s probably fraud not love,” Erek L. Barron, U.S.
Burns told the woman he was a lieutenant commander in the Army stationed at a U.S. base, and he had photos of himself dressed in a military uniform, charging documents showed. Burns professed his love for the woman, and she reciprocated. The woman tried to send the money to an account that was opened by Iwuagwu, but the banks involved in the transfer concluded it was a scam and canceled the transfer, according to the criminal complaint. Investigators also determined there was no Gerrald Burns in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Iwuagwu worked as a contractor for the Justice Department, where he provided security at facilities. He also carried a firearm and had the power to arrest people in D.C. because he had been deputized as a special deputy U.S. marshal.Egunjobi told investigators that he received U.S. currency from Iwuagwu and gave the man Nigerian money in return, according to criminal complaints. Egunjobi is also accused of receiving thousands of dollars directly from one of the victims.