Cristine Petitfrere, a 30-year-old woman from Miramar, Florida, was sentenced to 30 months (2 and a half years) in prison today for her involvement in a massive money laundering conspiracy tied to romance scams. These scams trick unsuspecting people into sending money to fraudsters who pretend to be in love. Petitfrere was an essential part of the crime, helping criminals take millions of dollars from victims, and now she is paying the price.
Petitfrere’s role in this dangerous crime was to help funnel the stolen money to people in other countries who were behind the romance scams. She even kept a portion of the money for herself as payment. This type of scam has been growing in the United States, and many of the victims are older or vulnerable people who are just looking for companionship. What they don’t know is that the people they think they are connecting with online are often lying and trying to steal their money.
How Romance Scams Work: A Devastating Scam for Victims
Romance scams are a form of fraud that have been spreading across the country. In these scams, a fraudster will create a fake online profile, pretending to be someone the victim can trust. They usually create stories that make the victim believe they are in love or that they are in an urgent situation that requires financial help. Sometimes, the scammer says they need money for medical bills, travel expenses, or business investments.
The victims are often tricked into sending large amounts of money, believing they are helping someone they care about. What they don’t know is that the person they are sending money to is not real. The money they send gets passed on to criminals who use it to continue their illegal activities.
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In Cristine Petitfrere’s case, she helped these criminals move the stolen money around by laundering it. Money laundering is when stolen or illegal money is made to look like it came from a legitimate source. Petitfrere helped hide where the money came from and made it easier for the criminals to use it without getting caught.
Unfortunately, romance scams cause a lot of harm. Many victims lose their savings, retirement funds, or other important money. It also hurts them emotionally, as they often feel betrayed and heartbroken after learning the truth. It’s not just about the money—it’s about trust being broken, and sometimes, victims don’t realize they’ve been scammed until it’s too late.
Petitfrere’s Guilty Plea and Sentence: A Major Criminal Network Targeted
In September 2024, Petitfrere pleaded guilty to one serious crime: conspiracy to commit money laundering. This means she admitted to being part of a group of criminals who helped move and hide the stolen money from the romance scams. Petitfrere personally helped launder over $2.7 million that came from victims of these scams. She didn’t keep all of it for herself; instead, she passed most of the money to people working with the fraudsters.
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However, she did keep some of the money as her payment for her part in the crime. In fact, as part of her punishment, Petitfrere was ordered to give up $203,815.59—money that she had personally received as a result of the crime. This amount is a small part of what she was involved in, but it shows just how much money she helped funnel through the criminal operation.
Romance Scams: A Growing Threat to Victims
Romance scams are becoming a bigger threat in America, with millions of dollars lost each year. The victims of these scams are often vulnerable, including the elderly, who can be easily manipulated by the fake online personas created by the criminals behind these schemes. The U.S. government is taking action against those who participate in these illegal operations, whether they are the ones directly deceiving victims or helping to hide the money.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Miami led the investigation into this case. This investigation helped uncover the full extent of the money laundering network, which was operating to steal money from innocent people. Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton also made a statement about the case, emphasizing how serious and harmful romance scams are.
By sentencing Petitfrere, the justice system sends a strong message to anyone who might think about getting involved in this type of crime. Although Petitfrere is only one person in this much larger conspiracy, her conviction and sentencing show that the U.S. government is committed to fighting these fraudsters and protecting innocent people from falling victim to such scams.
