Romance Scammer Indicted for Defrauding Woman of $96,000

A West Virginia man has been indicted for allegedly defrauding a woman out of $96,000 in a romance scam. Robert LeClear, 52, from Wheeling, is accused of starting an online relationship with the victim in 2022, claiming he had access to millions of dollars from gambling and past criminal activity. Prosecutors say these claims were false, and LeClear used the fabricated narrative to convince the woman to provide him with tens of thousands of dollars for supposed medical expenses and bail bonds. Despite repeatedly promising repayment, LeClear never returned the money. Federal authorities warn that romance scammers are skilled at creating believable relationships to exploit victims’ trust and emotions.