Monroe County Resident Charged with Participating in a Romance and Investment Fraud Conspiracy Scheme that Targeted the Elderly
2019-10-04 · Press release
Summary: KEY WEST - A Monroe County resident was arrested on charges in connection with a romance and investment fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims throughout the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan of the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Office.
KEY WEST - A Monroe County resident was arrested on charges in connection with a romance and investment fraud scheme that targeted elderly victims throughout the United States, announced U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan of the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Office.
Sean Kerwin Bindranauth, 42, of Key West, Florida, was charged in a ten-count indictment with conspiracy to commit money laundering, eight counts of money laundering, and conducting an unlicensed money transmitting business (Case No. 19-cr-10016-JEM). If convicted, Bindranauth faces a maximum statutory sentence of twenty years in prison for the money laundering conspiracy, twenty years in prison for each money laundering count, five years in prison for unlicensed money transmitting, and a fine up to $500,000 or double the proceeds as to the money laundering conspiracy and a fine of up to $1,000,000 as to each money laundering count of conviction. The total loss amount is more than $900,000. Bindranauth had his initial appearance and arraignment on Sept. 27, 2019, and trial is set for Dec. 9, 2019, before U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez in Key West.
According to the indictment, from at least as early as February 2018 and continuing through May 2019, Bindranauth was part of a conspiracy that used investment and romance scams to induce victims to money via wire, personal checks, or cash to Bindranauth for a purported investment or promissory payment. Bindranauth would allegedly send the funds out of the United States to Nigeria through Western Union and MoneyGram as well as bank-to-bank transfers. Several of the victims are over 60 years old. Bindranauth and his co-conspirators were given a total of nearly $1 million from over a dozen senior citizens and other victims.
An indictment is a charging instrument containing allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the investigative efforts of HSI in this matter. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Lazopoulos Friedman.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
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- https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl/pr/monroe-county-resident-charged-participating-romance-and-investment-fraud-conspiracy
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| participant_id | name | role | title | organization | location | age | nationality | status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2180 | Ariana Fajardo Orshan | prosecutor | U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida | Florida | |||
| 2181 | Anthony Salisbury | investigator | Special Agent in Charge | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Office | Florida | |||
| 2182 | Sean Kerwin Bindranauth | defendant | Key West, Florida | 42 | indicted | |||
| 2183 | Jose E. Martinez | judge | U.S. District Judge | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida | Key West, Florida | |||
| 2184 | Lindsey Lazopoulos Friedman | prosecutor | Assistant U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Florida | Florida |
| agency_id | agency_name | abbreviation | role | office_location | agents_mentioned | contribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1341 | U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida | prosecution | Southern District of Florida | Handling prosecution and announcing charges | ||
| 1342 | U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations | HSI | investigation | Miami Field Office | Anthony Salisbury | Led investigative efforts including arrest operations |
| charge_id | charge_description | statute | severity | max_penalty | fine_amount | defendant | status | participant_id | cl_docket_id | count_num | is_1960 | verified_1960 | source | updated_at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1128 | conspiracy to commit money laundering | twenty years in prison | up to $500,000 or double the proceeds | Sean Kerwin Bindranauth | indicted | 0 | enrichment | |||||||
| 1129 | money laundering | twenty years in prison | up to $1,000,000 | Sean Kerwin Bindranauth | indicted | 0 | enrichment | |||||||
| 1130 | conducting an unlicensed money transmitting business | five years in prison | Sean Kerwin Bindranauth | indicted | 1 | enrichment | 2026-09-16T19:45:58+00:00 | |||||||
| 3028 | unlicensed money transmitting business (Case No | 1 | press | 2026-09-16T19:45:58+00:00 |
| fin_id | action_type | amount | currency | description | asset_type | defendant | status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 699 | fine | $500,000 | USD | fine up to $500,000 or double the proceeds as to the money laundering conspiracy | cash | Sean Kerwin Bindranauth | pending |
| 700 | fine | $1,000,000 | USD | fine of up to $1,000,000 as to each money laundering count of conviction | cash | Sean Kerwin Bindranauth | pending |
| victim_id | victim_type | description | number_affected | loss_amount | geographic_scope | vulnerability_factors | impact_description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 307 | individual | senior citizens | over a dozen | $1,000,000 | United States | elderly | Defrauded of funds through investment and romance scams |
| quote_id | quote_text | speaker_name | speaker_title | speaker_organization | quote_type | context | significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1820 | An indictment is a charging instrument containing allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. | statement | Explanation of legal process | Provides context for the charges and the presumption of innocence. |
| theme_id | theme_name | description | significance | related_statutes | geographic_scope | temporal_aspects | stakeholders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1466 | Money Laundering | The defendant and co-conspirators laundered funds obtained through romance and investment fraud by transferring them internationally via Western Union, MoneyGram, and bank transfers. | Central to the charges, as the defendant faces multiple counts related to money laundering, which is a key component of the fraud scheme. | 18 U.S.C. § 1956 | International | The scheme operated from February 2018 to May 2019. | Law enforcement, Financial institutions, Victims |
| 1467 | Elder Fraud | The conspiracy specifically targeted elderly victims over 60 years old, exploiting them through romance and investment scams. | The case focuses on the exploitation of vulnerable elderly individuals, which is a key aspect of the charges and public interest. | National | The scheme occurred between 2018 and 2019, a recent development. | Victims (elderly), Law enforcement, Prosecutors | |
| 1468 | Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business | The defendant operated without a license to transmit money, facilitating the transfer of illicit funds to Nigeria. | A key charge in the indictment, highlighting illegal financial operations. | 18 U.S.C. § 1960 | International | The scheme operated from February 2018 to May 2019. | Defendant, Financial institutions, Regulatory authorities |
| 1469 | International Financial Transactions | Funds were transferred from the U.S. to Nigeria through various methods, indicating cross-border financial activity. | Shows the international scope of the fraud and money laundering operations. | International | The scheme's duration from 2018 to 2019. | Financial institutions, Law enforcement, International regulators | |
| 1470 | Conspiracy | The defendant was part of a conspiracy to commit money laundering and fraud. | The conspiracy charge underscores coordinated criminal activity among multiple parties. | International | The scheme operated from February 2018 to May 2019. | Defendant, Co-conspirators, Law enforcement |
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