Two men have pleaded guilty in Hartford federal court to conspiracy charges related to 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 involves a scheme that targeted dozens of primarily elderly victims through various online scams, including romance scams. The defendants are accused of helping launder nearly $9 million obtained from these fraudulent activities.
Court documents show that Richard Fasanella, a U.S. citizen who lived in Venezuela, worked with others to open numerous bank accounts under his own name and the names of sham companies. He also directed associates such as John J. Intoci to open additional accounts controlled by Fasanella. These accounts were used to deposit checks, cash, and money orders sent by scam victims. Fasanella and Intoci kept a portion of the funds for themselves while transferring the rest through other financial institutions and ultimately into cryptocurrency wallets belonging to the scam operators.
Despite being warned multiple times by bank employees and law enforcement that the funds he received were proceeds from scams—and having several accounts closed or seized due to fraud—Fasanella continued his activities. He was deported from Bogota, Colombia, detained since January 26, 2024, and pleaded guilty on March 3, 2026, to conspiracy to commit money laundering and illegal monetary transactions. This offense carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; sentencing is set for May 26.
Intoci, age 65 from 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. He was arrested on January 16, 2025, released on $50,000 bond pending sentencing scheduled for May 29.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; IRS Criminal Investigation Global Illicit Financial Team; Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration; U.S. Marshals Service; Migración Colombia; Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs; and Judicial Attaché Office in Bogotá. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather Cherry and Stephanie Levick are prosecuting the case.