A Washington resident has pleaded guilty to federal charges in connection with a romance scam that cost a Portland victim more than $333,000, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon said.
Rithy Ham, 45, of Vancouver, Washington, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering, according to prosecutors.
Fabricated Identities and False Emergencies
Prosecutors said the scheme ran from September 2020 through May 2024 and relied on invented identities of two women who supposedly needed cash for daily bills, nursing school costs and escape from sex trafficking.
The victim sent repeated payments after receiving messages from both Ham and the fabricated profiles. "Believing the women were real and in danger, the victim sent money on multiple occasions," the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
Specific Transfers Cited
Among the payments identified by prosecutors was a transfer of $36,872.35 in November 2022. Another $20,922 came from a retirement account in March 2023.
Ham and his wife controlled the accounts that received the funds, and part of the proceeds paid for an $18,500 check to his wife, prosecutors said.
"In total, Ham stole $333,249.52 from the victim, much of it from the victim's retirement savings," the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
Penalties and Restitution
Under the plea agreement, Ham must repay the full amount. He faces up to 20 years in prison on the wire fraud charge and up to 10 years on the money laundering count.
The FBI conducted the investigation.
