May 7, 2015

Maryland Man Charged with Defrauding Women Through Online Dating Sites

PITTSBURGH—A Maryland resident has been indicted in Pittsburgh by a federal grand jury on charges of wire fraud, money laundering and aggravated identity theft, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.

The 17-count indictment, returned on May 5, named Sigismond Senyo Segbefia, 28, of Silver Spring, Md., as the sole defendant.

According to the indictment, Segbefia engaged in an online “Romance Scheme,” in which he defrauded victims out of money by posing as other persons on popular online dating websites ChristianMingle.com and Match.com. He also is accused of wiring illicit funds to Ghana.

The law provides for a total sentence of 322 years in prison, a fine of $4,500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.