Retired priest pleads guilty in online dating scam

MASSACHUSETTS
Boston Herald

Associated Press Thursday, November 17, 2016

WORCESTER, Mass. — A retired Roman Catholic priest has pleaded guilty to his role in an international online dating scam.

The Telegram & Gazette (http://bit.ly/2fYTwPm ) reports that the Rev. Thomas Fleming reached a deal with federal authorities in which he agreed to plead guilty to one count of money laundering.

Prosecutors say the 67-year-old Fleming helped orchestrate the scheme for a person who identified himself as a serviceman overseas. Investigators say that person was using a false identity.

Women who responded to the online ads were asked to send money, which prosecutors say moved through two bank accounts belonging to Fleming.

Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.