CAMDEN — A former Ventnor resident convicted a decade ago for running a lonely hearts-style scheme to defraud women of cash admitted he returned to his old tricks, pleading guilty Thursday to money laundering in connection with attempts to rip off yet more women.
Paul J. Fishman, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, (Robert Sciarrino/The Star-Ledger)
Patrick Giblin, 52, posted ads on telephone dating services for nearly two years beginning in January 2013, eventually establishing relationships by phone with women across the country. Giblin told his victims he would either move or travel to where they lived in order to continue the relationship, but also requested loans for travel expenses.
His victims wired money to Giblin or transferred cash to his debit card. Giblin then spent at least some of the money to buy phone minutes which he used to call yet more women, authorities said.
In October 2014, he travelled from his home in Atlantic County to Albany County, N.Y., violating a parole provision from a previous conviction barring him from leaving the state. He continued the scam while traveling in New York, eventually defrauding 10 women in a number of states of up to $40,000
Giblin’s criminal history includes a 2007 conviction for 10 counts of wire fraud in connection with a similar scam targeting women on dating services, a 2015 conviction for violating the terms of his parole and a 2013 conviction for escaping from the Philadelphia halfway house where he lived after finishing his sentence for the 2007 conviction. Giblin launched his latest scam after escaping from the halfway house and resumed it after finishing his sentence for the escape conviction.
Giblin faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for his latest offense when he’s sentenced in May. He must also make restitution to his victims.
Paul Milo may be reached at pmilo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@PaulMilo2. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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