A Minnesota man who posed online as a woman named "Julia" to woo a Bradenton widower has been convicted in Manatee County and ordered to pay restitution after what authorities describe as a months-long romance scam that drained tens of thousands of dollars.
Court records and local authorities say the sentence includes one year in jail, followed by four years of probation, along with $31,000 in restitution. The case grew out of an Elder Fraud Unit investigation that began after the victim’s family spotted suspicious transfers last year and raised the alarm.
Conviction and plea
According to the Bradenton Police Department, Benjamin Yakah pleaded no contest to grand theft valued between $20,000 and $100,000 and was convicted of a second-degree felony. The department’s post states that the court ordered $31,000 in restitution and imposed a one-year jail term plus four years of probation.
The plea brought an end to the criminal proceedings in Manatee County tied to the romance scheme, which police say specifically targeted the Bradenton widower.
How investigators say the scheme worked
The investigation began in mid-2024 after the victim’s children reported concerns, local TV station WWSB reported. Investigators say the 77-year-old widower communicated for months with a profile using the name "Julia" and grew convinced the person on the other end was a genuine romantic partner in need.
Authorities say the victim was persuaded to send cash, money orders and cashier’s checks to a home and bank in Minneapolis after being told that "Julia" owed money and needed help to relocate. Reporters and police say detectives later traced those transfers to a bank account linked to Yakah and determined that the photos used for the fake profile were taken from a West Virginia woman without her knowledge.
Investigation and local impact
Bradenton Police say Elder Fraud Detective Jim Curulla traveled to Minnesota and, with assistance from the Bloomington (Minn.) Police Department, arrested Yakah. A subsequent search of his residence reportedly suggested there may be additional victims in other states, according to the department’s November 2024 release.
That release initially described alleged losses in excess of $100,000 tied to the scheme and directs residents to local resources for seniors who may be vulnerable to similar cons. The department also notes that printed guides are available at its headquarters at 100 10th Street West in Bradenton for anyone seeking help or more information.
Why this matters
Romance and other confidence scams continue to hit older Americans hard. The FBI’s IC3 found that people over 60 reported more than $3.4 billion in losses to internet scams in 2023, and confidence and romance schemes accounted for hundreds of millions in reported losses.
Victims often lose large sums before relatives or banks catch unusual transfers, and recovery becomes much harder without fast action. Law enforcement agencies urge people to monitor accounts, ask questions about sudden or secretive requests for money and report suspected fraud promptly, even if it feels awkward to bring it up with a loved one.
Legal notes
Under Florida law, theft of property valued between $20,000 and $100,000 is classified as grand theft in the second degree, a felony that can carry a sentence of up to 15 years in prison. Sentences vary, and judges may impose probation and restitution as part of plea agreements, as happened in this case.
Anyone with information about this case or similar scams is encouraged to contact the Bradenton Police Department or report suspected fraud to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
