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Criminal’s Story #6 – Kingsley Sebastian Ibhadore

Crime Type: Romance Scammer / Money Laundering

Crime Country: USA

This is a true crime story from the actual criminal’s story as obtained from official and media sources, enhanced by the SCARS Institute Editorial Team. We utilized the SCARS Institute’s AI ‘Jane’ to dive deeper and delve into the minds of these criminals, scammers, and fraudsters, crafting their real stories to reveal their potential motivations and methods. Understanding these perpetrators helps us combat and disrupt crime/scams/fraud more effectively, empowering us with the insights needed to protect others.

WARNING: THIS SCAMMER’S OR CRIMINAL’S STORY MAY BE TRIGGERING TO SOME PEOPLE. DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

ADVERTENCIA: LA HISTORIA DE ESTA CRIMINAL O ESTAFADOR PUEDE SER INSENSIBLE PARA ALGUNAS PERSONAS. SE RECOMIENDA DISCRECIÓN.

If you need help, learn what you need to know now at www.ScamVictimsSupport.org

Si necesita ayuda, aprenda lo que necesita saber ahora en www.ScamVictimsSupport.org

A Criminal’s Story

I Cashed Out Their Love for $500,000: My Romance Scam Operation in Phoenix

I’m Kingsley Sebastian Ibhadore, a 40-year-old Nigerian citizen living in Glendale, Arizona, and I’m sitting here with a calm, calculated confidence as I confess how I played a role in online romance scams, helping to launder over $500,000 in criminal proceeds through a web of bank accounts I controlled. I turned lonely hearts into cash, withdrawing their money in small chunks to avoid detection, and I lived off their trust, my mind always focused on the next payout, the next move, the next step to keep the operation running smoothly.

It kicked off around 2018, a time when I saw a chance to make serious money without ever showing my face. I lived in a modest apartment in Glendale, my days once filled with the grind of odd jobs, my nights consumed with thoughts of a better life. I had been in the U.S. legally as a resident, but the money wasn’t coming fast enough, and I knew I could do better. I connected with a group of scammers online, people who knew how to exploit the internet for profit, and they brought me into their romance scam operation. They handled the front end, creating fake profiles on dating sites to lure victims, while I took care of the back end, moving the money they tricked out of people, my role as a “money mule” clear from the start.

I set up my operation with precision, my hands steady as I opened 24 bank accounts across major banks like Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo, and BBVA Compass, each one under a different alias. I used fake passports and identities, names like Barry Bhoye, Celestin Cheick, Simone Diakite, and Celestin Emmanuel, my fingers typing out false information to create a network of accounts that looked legitimate. I targeted the victims of romance scams, lonely men and women across the U.S., often elderly, who believed they were sending money to a lover they met online. My co-conspirators built trust with them, posing as charming suitors, spinning tales of love and need, convincing them to send checks or wire transfers to my accounts, my inbox lighting up with notifications as the funds rolled in.

I worked the scheme methodically, my mind always calculating how to avoid detection, my actions deliberate as I withdrew the money in amounts below federal reporting requirements. I deposited checks from victims, some as large as $100,000, into my accounts, my hands steady as I watched the balances grow, my heart steady with the knowledge I was untouchable. I withdrew the funds in cash, often hitting multiple bank branches in a single day across Phoenix, Tucson, and other Arizona cities, my car parked strategically as I collected stacks of bills, keeping each withdrawal under $10,000 to avoid triggering reports to authorities. I transferred the money to accounts in Turkey and Nigeria, my co-conspirators directing me on where to send the funds, my emails quick as I sent the proceeds overseas, my cut of the profits piling up with each transaction.

I laundered over $500,000 between 2018 and 2019, my accounts swelling with each withdrawal, my life transforming as I watched the money flow. I received nearly $3 million in total proceeds, my role ensuring the scammers got their share while I kept a healthy fee for myself, my wallet growing fatter with each deal. I spent the cash on a better life, my greed guiding every purchase, my apartment now a showcase of things I hadn’t earned. I bought new electronics, my living room glowing with a big-screen TV I watched late into the night, my pride swelling with each new gadget. I dined out at nice spots in Scottsdale, my table piled with plates I never could have afforded before, my laughter loud as I lived in the moment. I upgraded my wardrobe, my closet brimming with sharp clothes I wore to blend into Phoenix’s social scene, my confidence soaring with each new outfit.

My motivation came from a place of ambition and impatience, a deep need to live a life of comfort without the slow grind I had known for so long. I grew up in Nigeria, always watching others live the life I wanted, my frustration mounting as I struggled to make ends meet, my journey to the U.S. a chance to start over but still not enough to satisfy me. I saw these victims as a means to an end, their loneliness a tool I could use, my mind convinced I was smarter than they were, smarter than the system that would never catch me. I felt powerful, my days filled with the rush of control, their trust in love a currency I cashed out, my greed outweighing any guilt as I focused on my own gain, my own escape from a life I loathed.

I kept the scheme running with a network of co-conspirators, my voice firm as I coordinated our moves, my phone buzzing with messages as we planned the next withdrawal. I used fake identities to juggle multiple accounts at once, my mind keeping track of each alias, each bank, each transaction, my actions seamless as I moved the money through my network. I withdrew cash in person, my hands steady as I collected the bills, my mind always thinking three steps ahead, my co-conspirators directing me on where to send the funds next. I knew what I was doing was illegal, knew I was helping scammers destroy lives, but I pushed that thought aside, my focus on the money, the power, the life I was building with every dollar I laundered.

I didn’t think about the long-term fallout, my mind too caught up in the immediate rewards, the exhilaration of each successful withdrawal. I felt alive, my days brimming with the thrill of deception, even as I knew deep down I was breaking the law. I envisioned a future where I didn’t have to worry about money, where I could live the life I always wanted, my mind refusing to consider the consequences, the lives I was helping to destroy with every dollar I moved. I pictured my victims as faceless, distant, my mind refusing to dwell on their suffering as I focused on my own gain, my own escape from a life I despised.

I face the consequences now, my world collapsing as I plead guilty to conspiring to commit structuring, my mind a storm of defiance and shame. I laundered over $500,000 for scammers, targeting lonely Americans who thought they were in love, exploiting their trust for my own gain, and now I sit here, my dreams of wealth replaced by the harsh reality of my actions, my freedom gone as I serve 17 months in prison. All I wanted was a better life.

Source:  https://www.justice.gov/usao-az/pr/phoenix-man-sentenced-prison-his-role-online-romance-scams

Copyright © 2025 SCARS Institute

SCARS Institute Notes:

Legal Disclaimer: The above narrative represents an interpretation and extrapolation based on all available information about the case. Achieving 100% factual accuracy remains impossible due to the inclusion of supposition and fictionalization to create a complete story and monologue. We aim to present a coherent account of the criminal’s perspective solely for entertainment purposes. We derive no income from this endeavor, offering it purely in the public interest. The criminal did not participate in this process.

Fictionalized True Crime Disclaimer: This story offers a dramatized account inspired by real events, crafted to explore the criminal’s perspective for entertainment purposes. We base the narrative on publicly available information, supplemented with fictional elements to create a cohesive storyline, and do not claim complete factual accuracy. The characters, dialogue, and specific motivations reflect artistic interpretation and do not represent the actual thoughts or actions of the individuals involved. We intend this work to raise awareness about the dangers of financial fraud, and we derive no profit from its publication, presenting it solely in the public interest. The depicted individuals did not contribute to or endorse this narrative.

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In the case of Scam Survivor’s Stories: The SCARS Institute displays this story to help recent scam victims. We are authorized to display this story and in this form or edition is copyright © Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc. All rights reserved. The specific survivor’s identity has been anonymized for their protection. Photos are generated and are not of the real person.

In the case of the Criminal’s Stories: The SCARS Institute presents the Criminal Stories to assist scam victims in understanding that criminals are real individuals, despite their terrible actions, and we can gain valuable insights from their experiences to prevent crime and identify these schemes as they emerge. We aim to support victims and survivors in releasing the emotions they harbor toward the criminals, fostering a path toward potential forgiveness over time.

Important Information for New Scam Victims

If you are looking for local trauma counselors, please visit counseling.AgainstScams.org

If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines

A Question of Trust

At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish. Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors’ experience. You can do Google searches but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.

SCARS Resources:

A Note About Labeling!

We often use the term ‘scam victim’ in our articles, but this is a convenience to help those searching for information in search engines like Google. It is just a convenience and has no deeper meaning. If you have come through such an experience, YOU are a Survivor! It was not your fault. You are not alone! Axios!

Statement About Victim Blaming

Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and not to blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and to help victims avoid scams in the future. At times, this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims; we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.

These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens, and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.

SCARS Institute articles can help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org and www.ScamsNOW.com


Psychology Disclaimer:

All articles about psychology and the human brain on SCARS Institute websites are for information & education only

The information provided in SCARS Institute articles is intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.

Note about Mindfulness: Mindfulness practices have the potential to create psychological distress for some individuals. Please consult a mental health professional or experienced meditation instructor for guidance should you encounter difficulties.

While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.

Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.

If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.

If you are in crisis, feeling desperate, or in despair, please call 988 or your local crisis hotline.

One Comment

  1. Scam Survivor Stories from SCARS Institute
    Maria May 26, 2025 at 8:51 pm - Reply

    What would be the world we live in like if all the criminals use their abilities into legal actions. If we all think not only about ourselves and our desires

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