Michael P. Drescher Acting United States Attorney for the District of Vermont | U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont
Cedric Wormely, a 59-year-old man from Birmingham, Alabama, was sentenced on April 28 to 30 months in prison for conducting a romance fraud scheme that targeted women in Vermont and other locations. The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont said Wormely was also ordered to pay $151,432.19 in restitution and will serve three years of supervised release after his prison term.
Wormely pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud after defrauding women he met through online dating platforms by pretending to be a New England resident with decades of experience at a shipping company who planned to start his own business. The court also imposed a concurrent sentence of 14 months for violating supervised release conditions stemming from previous convictions in the Northern District of Alabama for drug trafficking and counterfeiting offenses.
According to court records, Wormely created false stories about his life and work history in New England, shared photos of himself in work attire, described travel routes throughout Vermont, and made promises about building futures together with his victims. When questioned by victims about money requests, he manipulated conversations so they felt at fault. Some funds obtained through these schemes were used gambling at casinos around Robinsonville, Mississippi.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt said he commended the efforts of the United States Secret Service as well as support from the Berlin Police Department during the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Arra prosecuted the case while Samuel Ansell and Steve Barth represented Wormely.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Vermont supports community safety and civil rights through efforts to reduce crime and protect victims according to its official website. The office enforces federal criminal laws and handles civil litigation on behalf of the United States according to its official website, serving all regions within Vermont according to its official website. It fosters partnerships with state, local, federal law enforcement agencies as well as community partners according to its official website.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office operates out of Burlington and Rutland according to its official website, enforcing federal laws while working alongside various agencies on public safety initiatives.
