Suffolk Man Sentenced for Laundering Romance Scam Money Under the Name "Jenna"

A Suffolk man has been sentenced for laundering funds from a romance scam carried out under a fake identity, "Jenna Leigh Smith."

Jenna Leigh Smith never existed. Yet it was under that name that a Suffolk victim built an online relationship that would end up costing her dearly, before the money she handed over passed through the personal bank account of a very real man: 34-year-old Adam Mowle, of Harwich.

Mowle pleaded guilty to acquiring criminal property, admitting he'd let money obtained through the fake identity pass through his own bank account. The court handed him a 12-month suspended prison sentence, along with an order to repay the victim £9,165, plus court costs and a surcharge.

The case highlights a piece of romance scams that often goes unnoticed: the person writing the messages and building the fake relationship isn't always the one handling the money once it's been sent. Here, it was that second role — moving the funds once the victim's trust had been secured — that landed Mowle his sentence.