Two men have pleaded guilty in Hartford federal court to conspiracy charges related to a scheme that involved receiving, moving, and converting millions of dollars stolen from victims of online scams, according to a March 9 announcement by David X. Sullivan, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut.
The case highlights the ongoing threat posed by online scams targeting vulnerable individuals, particularly the elderly. Authorities say the defendants helped launder nearly $9 million obtained through fraudulent means.
Court documents show that Richard Fasanella, a U.S. citizen who lived in Venezuela, worked with others using various online scams—including romance scams—to defraud dozens of mostly elderly victims out of millions. Between 2018 and 2024, Fasanella opened numerous bank accounts under his own name and those of sham companies. He also directed associates such as John J. Intoci to open additional accounts for this purpose. The group deposited checks, cash, and money orders sent by scam victims into these accounts and kept a portion for themselves before transferring the rest to other financial institutions or cryptocurrency wallets controlled by scam operators.
Despite being warned multiple times by bank employees and law enforcement that the funds he received were from scammed victims—and having several accounts closed or funds seized—Fasanella continued laundering money for internet scammers.
Fasanella, age 56, was deported from Bogota, Colombia and has been detained since January 26, 2024. He pleaded guilty on March 3 to conspiracy to commit money laundering and illegal monetary transactions; he faces up to 20 years in prison at his sentencing scheduled for May 26. Intoci, age 65 of Spring Hill, Florida, pleaded guilty on March 9 to conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business—a charge carrying up to five years in prison—and is currently released on bond pending his May 29 sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; IRS Criminal Investigation Global Illicit Financial Team; Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration; with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service and Migración Colombia. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Judicial Attaché Office in Bogotá also assisted.
