Cincinnati woman pleads guilty to laundering more than $8 million for online romance scammers

CINCINNATI – A Cincinnati woman pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court here today to laundering more than $8 million for online romance scammers.

Pamela Moore, 65, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering. She was charged by a bill of information last month.

According to court documents, between 2020 and 2023, Moore’s personal and business bank accounts with multiple banks received more than $8 million in criminally derived funds. Moore personally received $1.7 million of the funds, which she used or converted to Bitcoin at the direction of the scammers.

For example, Moore maintained multiple business bank accounts for PSM Custom Designs and Jewelries and used the purported jewelry business accounts solely for money laundering. 

The parties involved in Moore’s case have recommended a sentence of up to three years in prison. As part of her plea, Moore will pay $1,680,900 in restitution. Sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the Court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Karen Wingerd, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI); and Yvonne Dicristoforo, Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service; announced the guilty plea entered today before Senior U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett. Assistant United States Attorneys Ebunoluwa A. Taiwo and Ryan A. Keefe are representing the United States in this case.

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