A man from New York is required to repay a Wichita woman after authorities determined he swindled her out of $110,000 through a romance scam.
In 2020, an individual pretending to be “Victor” connected with the 78-year-old Wichita widow on social media, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office. “Victor” convinced her to send money under the pretense of solving his financial troubles so they could be together.
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The woman sent a check for $110,000, but it was actually received by 35-year-old Jango Touray from New York City. A financial crimes investigator managed to freeze multiple accounts linked to Touray. District Attorney Marc Bennett announced that Touray pleaded guilty earlier this year to exploiting an elderly person.
Judge Jeffrey Syrios sentenced Touray to three years of probation and ordered him to return the entire amount. To date, the victim has received $38,000, with the remainder to be repaid over the next three years.
If Touray fails to make the payments, he faces a 34-month prison term.
The District Attorney’s office urges caution when dealing with online requests for money.
“Elderly individuals living alone are particularly susceptible to advanced romance scams where perpetrators use the internet to locate, befriend, and defraud their victims,” the DA’s office warned.
