Three Chicago-area residents involved in moving more than $3.5 million for an overseas company romance scam The network has sentenced in recent weeks, among others, a former U.S. Postal Service employee who told CBS News she regretted being roped into a "stupid scheme" by her then-boyfriend.

Former U.S. Postal Service employee and Iraq War veteran Jennifer Gosha was sentenced to three years of probation for her role in the Chicago fraud case, with the first six months of her sentence being placed under house arrest and her activities restricted.

One of the victims linked to the fraud facilitated by the three defendants was a 57-year-old Laura Smith. CBS News investigated the incident for more than a year missing and dead Koval is a widow and retired health care executive from Galena, Illinois.

Koval becomes involved in a romance scam with a man she meets via Match.com He calls himself "Frank Berg." What started as an online and phone romance evolved into an increasingly desperate demand for money. At first, Koval was happy to send money. It later emerged that she had been coerced. Koval's financial records show she sent nearly $2 million to "Frank" over nearly two years.

According to law enforcement, "Frank" was not a real person but a group of con men from West Africa. Scammers use stolen photos to create fraudulent profiles.

By the end of their correspondence, "Frank" had drained Laura of her life savings and the scammer began instructing Koval on how to set up fake companies and bank accounts to move the funds.

The case represents an increasingly common aspect of these online romance scams - exploiting so-called money mule Covering and laundering financial transactions. A CBS News investigation found that one of the $75,000 down payments Koval made at "Frank's" request was actually received by three people living in suburban Chicago, including Gosha, according to law enforcement records.

Two other conspirators, Samuel Aniukwu and Anthony Ibekie, both Nigerian citizens, were sentenced in November. The criminal complaint against the three men alleges that undercover agents made secret recordings that revealed their involvement in romance scams and a host of other schemes. Investigators said the trio's fraud cost victims at least $750,000.

Aniukwu pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering in July 2023 and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors as part of a plea agreement. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Ibeki has pleaded not guilty to 14 charges against him, including wire fraud and forgery. He went on trial last September and was found guilty on 14 counts. Ibeki was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

CBS News spoke with a juror in Ibeki's trial who told us the most moving aspect of Ibeki's case was the victim's statement. Four witnesses testified about the pain and loss they suffered as a result of Ibeki's fraud, including a retired dentist in his 70s who suffers from dementia praecox.

"He did cry a little bit on the witness stand," the juror, who requested anonymity, said of Ibeki. "But it seems to be more about the amount of evidence they have against him."

Laura Kowal's daughter Kelly Gowe gave a victim impact statement at the sentencing of Ibekie and Aniukwu, recounting her late mother's death story. In an interview with CBS News last year, she told CNN she was "very angry" at the criminals responsible for her mother's death.

"I look at my life now and realize that my mom missed out on all of this," Galway said in an interview last year. "They took so much from me. They took everything from her. My family will never get that time back."

In an interview with CBS News last year, Gosha explained that she had been dating Ibeki, whom she thought was a Nigerian doctor. Gosha said she too was a victim of a romance scam and became a money mule herself.

In sentencing Gorsa, Judge Steven Seager recognized "the seriousness of the crime and the horrific harm caused to the victim," Gorsa's attorney, Patrick Boyle, said in a statement to CBS , but also acknowledged "the substantial difference in Ms. Gosha's relative culpability." information.

"She had been an honest, law-abiding citizen her entire life until she met Anthony Ibaki," Boyle said. "Anthony took advantage of her best qualities and manipulated her to further his selfish goals. Jennifer regrets helping Anthony in any way."

When she was arrested for allegedly conspiring with Ibeki, she said she felt trapped. "If I was 'complicit' in this, why would I be left here instead of taking 50 cents with me?" Gosha told CBS News.