PLYMOUTH, MASS. (WHDH) - A New York-based online scammer has been indicted after allegedly tricking a Massachusetts resident out of $300,000.
Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz announced that a grand jury indicted Nikeisha Lewis, 42, on one count of larceny over $1,200, one count of receiving stolen property over $1,200, and one count of money laundering.
According to authorities, Lewis conducted an “elaborate online scheme” targeting a female victim in Plymouth County. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the victim made online contact with an individual operating a profile under the name “Richard Kobstar” who “purported to be a CIA agent and owner of a successful diamond mining company”.
A report filed with Plymouth PD stated the victim, a woman in her 60s, “thought she fell in love with this person, who convinced her he was both a CIA agent and a mining company owner.” The two reportedly never met in-person.
The victim went on to send large sums of money through checks, cash, and wire transfers to Lewis, who “Kobstar” had said was his assistant.
Prosecutors detailed how the victim first withdrew $15,000 from a bank in Sandwich in 2020 and sent a certified check to the defendant’s New York address. A dozen more checks and wire transfers would follow. The victim also told police that on two occasions, she mailed packages of cash to New York, as well.
Officials said Lewis fraudulently deposited these funds into her bank account and quickly withdrew cash from random ATMs in an attempt to conceal the activity.
Plymouth Police were contacted about the theft in March of 2022, a few months after the victim said she started to have suspicions that she was being scammed.
The extensive investigation conducted by police “found that Lewis acted in a joint venture with unknown other individuals” to the victim into sending $300,000 over the course of 15 months. The stolen funds were allegedly used by Lewis to pay for bills, her mortgage, groceries, and travel expenses.
Police said that when they initially responded to the victim’s home, she was said to be depressed and afraid to leave the building – trying to conserve what little cash she had left.
“Our heart certainly goes out to her, however, citizens of Plymouth, citizens of this great Commonwealth, and the nation – please do not ever give money to anybody that you just meet on any social media platform,” said Plymouth Police Captain Jason Higgins.
Lewis will be arraigned at a later date. According Plymouth police, authorities are also searching for a male suspect who may have been involved in the scam.
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