Mar.11, 2010

FREMONT -- Police say Richard Roth is the type of man they've been warning you about.

Roth, 58, of Fremont, is suspected of taking part in an international money laundering scheme -- scamming up to $60,000 out of people across the country. Police say he's a small piece in a larger scam.

Roth was arraigned Wednesday in Fremont Municipal Court on a charge of attempted theft from an elderly person. He posted the $1,000 bail and is set for a preliminary hearing March 16.

Judge Michael Burkett said Roth cannot have contact with the victim and must stay in Northwest Ohio, a municipal court clerk said.

Fremont Detective Anthony Emrich said other charges will be presented to a Sandusky County grand jury.

Detectives say the case could involve up to 50 victims who were scammed out of thousands of dollars.

Roth was arrested after police searched his Dorr Street residence Tuesday. They reported finding documented money orders.

Emrich said this all started when Roth met an elderly Florida woman through an online dating site.

They began chatting and having phone conversations; Roth was posing as a school teacher, police said. A week after they began conversing, Roth said he needed money for a laptop computer for his students, and asked for more than $1,400, police said.

Emrich said the elderly victim sent a money order to Roth. That order was flagged by the money transfer service, which said it was suspicious.

The woman then considered mailing money directly to the address, but contacted police after sensing a possible scam.

With the victim's cooperation, Emrich assumed her identity and began chatting online with the suspect, collecting evidence that led to a search warrant.

Roth was not home at the start of the search, but was arrested when he arrived.

"He admitted to scamming people," Emrich said. "He was trying to make ends meet. Financially he is struggling."

Emrich said Roth was a local part of a larger operation that would send scammed money to other countries, including Nigeria and Jordan. Roth told police as part of the deal, he was told he could keep 6 to 7 percent of the total pot for himself.

"This is bigger than initially anticipated," Emrich said. "He was just a voice."

Emrich said the case is constant reminder as to why people should be careful when using the Internet.

"If it sounds too good to be true, it is," Emrich said. "You don't know who's involved. ... If you send money and it's illegal or suspicious we're going to catch you."

Roth was involved in another scam a year ago -- but he was the victim, according to Emrich, who said he'll contact the U.S. Secret Service about the case.