In December 2024, an Oklahoma woman named Christine Joan Echohawk was accused of scamming several elderly women out of $1.5 million through online romance scams. Echohawk allegedly used fake names like Jason Morris, Edward Lotts, and Glenn Goadard to convince the victims to send her money for various reasons, such as purchasing property or paying off debts. She laundered the money through various accounts and converted it into cryptocurrency, sending the payments to an unidentified suspect.
Echohawk was charged with unlawful use of criminal proceeds and violating state computer statutes. She faces up to 62 years in prison and $260,000 in fines. The Stillwater MidFirst Bank branch alerted authorities to Echohawk’s activities, leading to an investigation by the Consumer Protection Unit.
The FBI defines these types of crimes as confidence/romance schemes, where individuals are manipulated into sending money, financial information, or items of value to perpetrators they believe are in a relationship with. In 2023 alone, over $600 million was lost to confidence/romance crimes.
Echohawk denied the allegations at first, claiming she was in an online relationship under the alias Maurice Deniro. However, evidence found in her possession, including bank cards, deposit slips, and Apple gift cards, indicated otherwise. Echohawk has been held in Pawnee County Jail since her arrest and could face significant penalties if convicted. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond commended the Consumer Protection Unit for their work in fighting for the victims and holding Echohawk accountable.
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