Two Con Men Took Woodlands Woman For $2 Million

The Woodlands, TX -- It seemed so innocuous, a random friend request from a friend of a friend on Facebook. A few messages in the inbox turn into a good-natured chat.

The messages led to phone calls. The phone calls led to, what seemed like, an actual relationship.

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In June 2014, a woman who lives in The Woodlands, known only as D.B. in court documents, received a friend request from a man claiming to be a French construction manager called Charlie John Lott.

Lott said he found her profile through one of their mutual friends. He claimed to live in New Jersey, and said he worked all over the world.

Things seemed to be going fairly well for the first month, he reeled her in with promises of visiting Houston after his work overseas was completed. He flattered her, made her laugh.

Then he set the hook. He suggested they set up a joint bank account. He started asking to 'borrow' money, he claimed it was for a construction project in Anaheim, CA.

Lott told D.B. to wire him the money and when Western Union and MoneyGram turned her down for suspicious transactions Lott asked for a cashier's check instead.

Next it was a variation on the old foreign lottery scheme, he claimed he had a $42 million project in Johannesburg, South Africa that needed a quick cash infusion. He said he'd get her money in and out in no time, he even promised that she'd turn a profit on the construction.

She sent him more money. By January 2015, he claimed that the construction project in J-Burg was wrapping up and that the profits would be going into their shared bank account.

Then he said that the transfer had hit a snag, that she needed to meet South African diplomats to help sort things out. When she met with Kunle Mutiu Amoo, 48, and Lanre Sunday Adeoba, 61, they claimed that there were some customs fees that needed to be paid before the money could be delivered.

So she started giving these 'South African Diplomats,' really just a couple of Nigerian's out to make a quick buck, money. In about two months D.B. handed over $500,000 to Amoo and Adeoba.

By the time D.B.'s accountant caught on to what had been going on she'd been taken for $2 million. The accountant helped D.B. contact the FBI and she worked with the bureau to put together a case.

The man who called himself Charlie Lott ghosted after the last payment, but Amoo and Adeoba could be found. The cops nailed them, conspiracy to commit wire fraud. One count each.

The dynamic duo of scamming little old ladies pleaded guilty in Federal Court on Friday, July 15. U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennet set their sentencing date for Sept. 22. Both Amoo and Adoeba could each face up to 20 years in prison and a possible $25,000 fine.