A 63-year-old woman from northern Texas reportedly gave $100K to a man she met online and who she believed to be popstar Bruno Mars.
What We Know:
- A third-degree felony money laundering charge was filed against the catfish con artist, Chinwendu Azuonwu. He appeared before a Harris County criminal court on Tuesday morning for a probable cause hearing, according to online court records.
- According to the charge documents, Azuonwu began the catfishing scheme via Instagram back in September 2018. The victim claims that the person pretending to be Bruno Mars reached out to her on social media and tricked her into what she thought was a romantic relationship.
- The documents reveal the woman’s feelings for the Mars impersonator, stating that she believed him to be the real singer because he had sent her several text messages, including photos of Mars while he was on tour. She also told investigators that he wanted to quit the tour to be with her.
- Later on in the relationship, the impersonator began asking the woman for money towards “tour expenses,” and for “friends of the band”. According to investigators, she was asked to make out a $10,000 check and then, two days later, draw out funds amounting to $90,000.
- Prosecutors say that the money was deposited into two accounts, one held by Azuonwu and another belonging to an accomplice, who was identified as Basil Amadi. Investigators then attained search warrants and found a $90,000 deposit in Azuonwu’s account, which was already withdrawn leaving a zero balance.
- Both culprits were federally charged with money laundering, though Amadi’s arrest record in the case was not immediately stated. In Harris County Probable Cause Court, Azuonwu’s bail was set at $30,000, according to ABC News in Texas.
Azuonwu is due back in court Wednesday for a bail review hearing, court records show.
