A Cincinnati woman, 65, has been handed a two-year prison sentence for her role in a money laundering scheme linked to online romance scams. On judgment day, Senior U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett ordered Pamela Moore to pay $1.68 million in restitution following a guilty plea she entered in February.
The scam involved more than $8 million in proceeds between 2020 and 2023. Moore's personal and business bank accounts were used to receive and transfer these illicit funds. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Ohio, Moore profited from approximately $1.7 million, money she then used or converted to Bitcoin on the scammers' behalf.
Moore's business alias, PSM Custom Designs and Jewelries, was a front for the laundering operations. Acting U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker, in conjunction with IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd and U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Yvonne Dicristoforo, stressed the gravity of Moore's actions, implicating her as a pivotal cog amid a wheel of deception that exploited the affections and trust of unsuspecting individuals seeking companionship online.
The naming of Moore's business as the laundering conduit provides a stark example of how legitimate business facades are exploited for illegal activities. The case was a collaborative effort by various law enforcement bodies, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ebunoluwa A. Taiwo and Ryan A. Keefe ultimately bringing the prosecution that culminated in Moore's sentencing.
