MIRAMAR, Fla. – Cristine Petitfrere, a 30-year-old Miramar resident, may face up to ten years in prison after admitting her involvement in a multi-million dollar scheme that preyed on elderly Americans, federal prosecutors announced.
Guilty Plea in High-Stakes Money Laundering Case
On Wednesday, Petitfrere confessed to a conspiracy to commit money laundering charge, as detailed by the U.S. Department of Justice. The crime involved manipulating vulnerable seniors into parting with their savings, highlighting a growing trend of financial crimes targeting older adults.
The Mechanics of the Scam: GlamGoddessArtistry at the Center
Operating under her business, GlamGoddessArtistry, Petitfrere transferred over $2.7 million to an accomplice in Ghana, earning a substantial sum in return.
“Hundreds of thousands of dollars,” were her share of the pilfered funds, according to court documents.
Victims Across States Suffer Heavy Losses
The victims, mainly seniors in their late 60s and early 70s from Arizona, Indiana, and Virginia, fell prey to meticulously crafted online personas that promised companionship but led to financial exploitation.
The emotional and financial toll of these romance scams is immense, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting that Americans lost $1.14 billion to such schemes in 2023 alone.
Sentencing and Resources for Victims
Petitfrere is scheduled for sentencing on December 11 in federal court. In response to the increasing incidents of senior fraud, authorities urge victims or their relatives to seek assistance through the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311.
