"Romance scammer" who posed as St. Louis veterinarian gets 3 years in federal prison after woman loses $1.1 million

A Texas man was sentenced to three years in federal prison on Tuesday for his part in a romance scam that swindled a Missouri woman out of more than $1.1 million. He has also been ordered to repay the money. 

Rotimi Oladimeji, 38, of Richardson, Texas, pleaded guilty last year to two counts of mail fraud, two counts of wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, in connection with the scheme, the U.S. Attorney's office in St. Louis said in a news release.

Oladimeji and two others — co-defendants Olumide Akrinmade and Adewale Adesanya — spotted the victim on the "Silver Singles" online dating site, prosecutors said. Posing as a Belgian national who was a veterinarian and animal behaviorist living in St. Louis, the scammers made plans to meet with her but never followed through. Meanwhile, Oladimeji tricked the victim into sending money, in cash and cashier's checks, through FedEx to Akrinmade's home in Texas, authorities said. Oladimeji is accused of recruiting Akrinmade and Adesanya into the scheme and directing them to receive those funds sent from the victim.