A Florida woman is heading to federal prison after helping launder millions of dollars stolen from elderly Americans through a calculated romance scam network. The case pulls back the curtain on a much larger criminal web that reached overseas and left real people devastated, financially and emotionally.

The Woman at the Center of the Case

Cristine Petitfrere, 30, of Miramar, Florida, was sentenced after admitting to personally laundering millions of dollars as part of her participation in the conspiracy. On January 7, she was sentenced to 30 months in prison and ordered to forfeit $203,816 in proceeds that she received from the scheme. Petitfrere pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering in the Southern District of Florida in September 2024. The FBI Miami Field Office investigated the case. Trial Attorneys Matthew Robinson and Lauren M. Elfner of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch prosecuted the case. Petitfrere had been facing a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. The 30-month sentence reflects her cooperation and guilty plea, but for the victims left behind, no prison term truly measures the damage done.

Florida woman sentenced for romance scam money laundering elderly victims

How the Scheme Actually Worked

From December 2019 to August 2023, Petitfrere funneled money from romance scams to a person in Ghana, whom the indictment called “Co-conspirator 1,” in exchange for a commission. That is nearly four years of criminal activity, quietly operating out of South Florida. The indictment alleged that as-yet unidentified scammers duped three elderly victims in their 60s to early 70s into sending money to Petitfrere’s bank accounts and, in one instance, a cashier’s check to her Miramar-based company, GlamGoddessArtistry. The fraudsters would fabricate stories to the romance scam targets about foreign travel to explain why they were unable to meet in person. At times, the scammers would also create fraudulent personas “who purported to be accountants, lawyers, or other associates.” **The victims were not tricked by a simple lie. They were manipulated over weeks and months by what felt like a real relationship.** In August 2022, a scammer allegedly persuaded the Virginia-based victim to send $23,670 to Petitfrere’s bank account. Five days later, the victim sent $134,562 to another of her bank accounts. Prosecutors claim Petitfrere then transferred $121,050 on August 17 to her unnamed co-conspirator in Ghana. According to her plea agreement, Petitfrere personally laundered over $2.7 million of criminal proceeds.

Real People, Real Losses

Prosecutors say the three victims lived in Arizona, Indiana, and Virginia, respectively. These were not random targets. They were older Americans who sought companionship online and were systematically deceived. Romance scams target unsuspecting individuals, many of whom are seeking companionship online, and involve fraudsters who create fake personas to build relationships with victims. The fraudsters then convince victims to send money, often under false pretenses such as emergency situations or investments. Many elderly victims lose their life savings, retirement funds, or even their homes. The emotional effects can be equally devastating. Victims often feel ashamed or embarrassed, making them reluctant to report the crime. This isolation can lead to depression, anxiety, and a diminished sense of trust in others. > “Romance scams cause not only significant losses but also profound emotional harm to countless individuals,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. The Justice Department has stated it will continue to vigorously pursue those who help facilitate these criminal enterprises, whether they work on the frontlines of deception or behind the scenes.

The Billion-Dollar Crisis Nobody Is Talking About Enough

The Petitfrere case is disturbing. But it is also just one piece of a massive national problem.

• In 2023 alone, the Federal Trade Commission received more than 64,000 reports of romance scams, with losses totaling more than $1.1 billion.
• Reported losses to romance scams total $1.14 billion, with median losses per person of $2,000, the highest reported losses for any form of imposter scam.
• Nearly 60% of people who reported losing money to a romance scam in 2025 said it started on a social media platform. In 2025, nearly 30% of people who reported losing money to a scam said that it started on social media, with reported losses reaching a staggering $2.1 billion.
• Total fraud losses reported by older adults (ages 60 and over) increased about fourfold from 2020 to 2024, skyrocketing from about $600 million in 2020 to $2.4 billion in 2024.
• According to the Federal Trade Commission, reports of romance fraud have more than tripled over the last six years. The amount of reported losses skyrocketed from $145 million in 2018 to more than a billion dollars in 2023.

The FTC warns that the real losses are far higher due to underreporting, with the agency estimating that the overall cost of fraud to older adults in 2024 was between $10.1 billion and $81.5 billion, depending on methodology. **The numbers are staggering. But behind every dollar is a real person who sent money to someone they believed truly loved them.**

Warning Signs That Could Protect You or Someone You Love

Romance scams generally begin with fraudsters reaching out through social media, dating sites, or even email, posing as a potential romantic interest. These scammers create fake profiles and spend weeks or even months building trust before requesting money under various pretenses. Knowing what to look for is the first line of defense. Here are the most common red flags:

• They declare love unusually fast, sometimes within days of first contact
• They refuse to chat on video, claiming their phone’s camera does not work or they do not have a cell phone at all
• They say they live in your home country but are traveling for work, claiming to be, for example, a military servicemember, a traveling physician, or an oil rig worker
• They push you to move to private apps like WhatsApp or Telegram, away from monitored platforms
• The romance scammer will also be very specific about how you pay them, potentially in gift cards or untraceable methods like cryptocurrency
• They always have an excuse for why they cannot meet you in person

Never send money, crypto, gift cards, bank or wire transfers, or anything else to anyone you have not met in person. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). You can also report directly to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The sentencing of Cristine Petitfrere sends a clear message from federal law enforcement that no part of the romance scam chain is too small to prosecute. Whether someone is pulling the strings overseas or quietly moving money through a local bank account in Miramar, justice is coming. For the elderly victims who were robbed of their savings and trust, this conviction is a step toward accountability. But the best protection for families everywhere remains awareness, conversation, and the courage to speak up before the money is gone. What are your thoughts on how the federal government is handling romance scam cases? Share your opinion in the comments below.