Janey Sears sentenced to 15 years for $406,000 romance fraud

Janey Sears, a 72-year-old woman from Washington, D.C., has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after being convicted of a years-long romance and investment fraud scheme. A judge ordered her to serve 15 years of a 20-year sentence, with five years suspended, followed by five years of supervised probation.

Prosecutors established that Sears met her victim through an online dating site in 2019, posing as a Harvard-educated businesswoman. She convinced the victim to take out a $150,000 home equity line of credit and invest in a purported exclusive Pfizer stock opportunity. Between 2021 and 2023, the victim transferred $406,954 to Sears, which she instead deposited into personal accounts to fund a luxury vehicle and gambling expenses at various casinos.

Sears was found guilty by a Montgomery County jury of theft scheme over $100,000, securities fraud, and misappropriation of funds by a fiduciary. She has been ordered to pay nearly $407,000 in restitution through monthly payments following her release.