Man Heads to Prison in Nun Scheme

A South Jersey man is sentenced to 18 years in prison for an elaborate scam to defraud a nun and other victims out of more than $1 million dollars.

Adriano Sotomayor, 55, of Margate, plead guilty to 17 counts of wire fraud for the scheme that stretched over a two-year period.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says Sotomayor told an elderly nun she was named as the beneficiary in the will of an estate worth approximately $2.1 million dollars.

The nun was part of the Dominican Sisters of the Rosary of Fatima. Between May 2009 and November 2011, Sotomayor contacted the nun requesting she send money to pay for taxes, processing fees and legal fees in connection with the fake will.

He didn't stop there. Sotomayor targeted other victims to send money on the nun's behalf.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says at least 50 people sent approximately $1.3 million dollars to Sotomayor. He received the money through wire transfers at several Atlantic City casinos.

Sotomayor was indicted in 2011 and fled the state. The FBI tracked him down in Las Vegas and arrested him in February 2012.

Besides serving prison time, a judge ordered Sotomayor to pay $1.5 million in restitution.


Contact Lauren DiSanto at 610.668.5705, lauren.disanto@nbcuni.com

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