PISCATAWAY, N.J. (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) –Two New Jersey residents were arrested last week for allegedly scamming a 74-year-old man in Tennessee out of $100,000 with a celebrity romance scheme, which was discovered after the victim died by suicide last month, police said.
On Nov. 20, Chinagorom Onwumere, 34, and Salma Abdalkareem, 27, were arrested by the Piscataway Township Police Department after police launched an investigation in late October, according to a federal complaint.
Police believe the victim's suicide on Oct. 23 was a direct result of the scam by the New Jersey couple, according to the complaint.
Following the suicide, his family members discovered emails on the victim's tablet and submitted them to the police.
The victim, a retired teacher from Jonesborough, Tennessee, believed he was in a romantic relationship with a celebrity, according to details obtained by The Daily Beast.
The duo initially contacted the victim in August, posing as a well-known actress and later as the FBI.
Court documents revealed that Onwumere and Abdalkareem manipulated him into paying “fines” to the FBI to settle a fabricated sexual harassment suit by the fake celebrity he was in a relationship with.
They allegedly tricked the victim into mailing checks to their address, disguised as an FBI office.
One of these checks, amounting to $41,000, was cashed at Navy Federal Credit Union in Colts Neck, with surveillance video capturing Onwumere and Abdalkareem depositing the check.
The victim reportedly sent numerous gift cards and three checks, with the total estimated amount sent exceeding $100,000.
WCSO deputies traced Onwumere and Abdalkareem to New Jersey.
A subsequent search warrant executed at the suspects' residence led to their arrest.
The accused waived extradition and were transferred to the Washington County Detention Center.
Onwumere, identified as a member of the Army National Guard, and Abdalkareem face three counts each of financial exploitation of an elderly/vulnerable person and two counts each of theft and criminal impersonation.
During their initial court appearance on Nov. 20, each received a bond set at $500,000.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 30, with additional charges pending as the investigation continues.