West Virginia man indicted for online romance scam

WHEELING, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Eugene Robert LeClear, a 52-year-old resident of Wheeling, has been indicted on charges of defrauding a woman he met online, according to an announcement by United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld.

LeClear allegedly initiated an online relationship with the victim in 2022 and began requesting money from her under false pretenses.

According to court documents, LeClear claimed he needed funds for medical expenses and to post bond in a criminal case.

He promised to reimburse the victim and falsely claimed to have access to millions of dollars from gambling winnings and prior criminal activities.

The victim ultimately lost approximately $96,000 as a result of the scheme.

“Romance scammers are expert manipulators who develop relationships that feel very real,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “Victims are understandably reluctant to come forward because they are embarrassed, but we hope they still will so that action can be taken to prevent others from being harmed.”

LeClear has been charged with five counts of wire fraud. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison for each count.

The sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge, who will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.