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Shanice Dawdy, also known as Ijeoma Okoro, is a romance scammer who was convicted for her involvement in defrauding elderly victims through online romance schemes. Using dating platforms like Match.com and Zoosk, Dawdy and her co-conspirators assumed fake identities to gain the trust of their targets, often divorced or widowed individuals seeking companionship. Once they established a connection, they fabricated urgent financial needs, such as work-related crises or family medical emergencies, to solicit money from their victims.
Dawdy’s scam operation was extensive, involving multiple bank accounts to launder the fraudulently obtained funds. She was found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. In March 2024, she was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison and ordered to pay over $2.2 million in restitution to her victims.
Her conviction is part of a larger crackdown on similar fraudulent activities, with several co-defendants also receiving prison sentences for their roles in the scheme. The investigation and prosecution were carried out by the IRS Criminal Investigation unit, the FBI, and other federal agencies.