Posed as a Successful Businessman: Temecula Man Admits Taking $1.8 Million From Two Elderly Women in Romance Fraud

Published Oct. 8, 2026. Case statuses are current as of that date.

Not every romance scam starts with a stranger overseas and a fake profile photo. In a federal case in San Diego, prosecutors say the man was real, the dates were real, and the "business opportunities" were not.

On Oct. 6, 2026, Troy Clinton Van Sickle, 55, of Temecula, California, pleaded guilty in federal court to wire fraud, money laundering, and making a false statement, admitting that he took more than $1.8 million from two elderly women he claimed to be romantically interested in, and then obstructed the FBI's investigation, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California said [1].

Van Sickle has admitted guilt in this case through his plea; he has not yet been sentenced.

How the scheme worked

According to his plea agreement, as described by prosecutors [1]:

1. Choosing a target. Van Sickle targeted a wealthy divorced woman in Los Angeles and cultivated what appeared to be a romantic relationship to gain access to her finances.
2. Hiding the past. He concealed a criminal history that included convictions for fraud, theft, extortion and perjury, and presented himself as a trustworthy, successful businessman.
3. The hardship story. Once he had her confidence, he claimed he faced financial hardship and needed money for business deals and investment opportunities. He promised quick repayment and a share of future profits.
4. The fake deal. He created a fake miniature replica car company and gave the woman a fake multimillion-dollar contract between that company and Lotus Cars. She sent the contract to her financial advisor and wired him $150,000 to fund it. He used that money toward a 2022 Ferrari SF90 Stradale he had bought the month before for $734,000.
5. Where the money went. Van Sickle admitted he used the money to make payments on luxury cars, gamble at casinos, and send money to other women.
6. A second woman. He also targeted a woman in San Diego the same way, and spent her money on luxury cars, gambling and other women.

Between 2022 and 2024, he received more than 30 money transfers from the two women totaling more than $1.8 million and has not repaid any of it. He admitted he knew they were vulnerable because of their age, health and trusting nature [1].

Covering it up

Van Sickle was on federal supervised release for a prior fraud conviction during the scheme and had been ordered to pay $250,000 in restitution to nine victims of that case. Prosecutors say he gave his probation officer a false financial statement, signed under penalty of perjury, that left out the money from the woman, the luxury cars he bought and sold, and his gambling winnings and losses [1].

When he learned the FBI had contacted the first woman, he "manipulated and exploited her" into deleting text messages, lying to law enforcement, and signing a false promissory note that made the transfers look like a 10-year loan, according to the release. He also had her sign a false statement saying he had already repaid $140,000, and gave both documents to his probation officer [1].

KESQ reported, citing prosecutors, that Van Sickle was actually working as a janitor at a San Diego County preschool while claiming to be a successful businessman [2].

The person who pleaded guilty

Troy Clinton Van Sickle, 55, of Temecula, California, pleaded guilty to wire fraud (maximum 30 years in prison), money laundering (maximum 10 years), and a false statement to the government (maximum five years), in case No. 26-cr-1774-RBM [1]. Courthouse News Service, which covered the hearing, reported that when asked whether he wished to plead guilty, Van Sickle answered: "Yes, I would, your honor." It also reported he was charged in May, that he is to repay about $1.7 million to the first woman and $165,000 to the second, and that his lawyer, John Kirby, declined to comment after the hearing [3].

Sentencing is set for Jan. 15, 2027, before U.S. District Judge Ruth Bermudez Montenegro. He is also scheduled for a preliminary hearing on revocation of his supervised release on Oct. 20, 2026 [1].

Red flags

• A new partner who quickly has money trouble tied to a "deal" that needs your cash right now.
• Contracts or documents you can't verify with the company named on them. A short call to the real company can expose a fake.
• Promises of profit-sharing in exchange for a loan to a romantic partner.
• Requests to keep things quiet, delete messages, or tell investigators a different story. Prosecutors say that is exactly what happened here.
• Lavish spending that doesn't match the "hardship" story.

The FTC's advice for online romances applies here too: "Never send money or gifts to a sweetheart you haven't met in person" [4]. Even when you have met, treat any request for large sums as a financial decision, not a romantic one.

What to do if you or a relative is targeted

1. Talk to someone you trust (a relative, friend, banker or financial advisor) before sending money to a partner [4].
2. Run a background check. Many court records are public; search the person's full name with your state and federal court systems.
3. Verify business claims by calling the companies involved using contact details you find yourself.
4. Never lie to law enforcement on someone else's behalf, and keep every message.
5. Report it to the FBI at ic3.gov and the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. People 60 and older who need help filing can call the DOJ Elder Justice Hotline at 1-833-372-8311 [5].

Case status (as of Oct. 8, 2026)

Defendant	Court	Status as of Oct. 8, 2026	Source
Troy Clinton Van Sickle, 55, Temecula, CA	Federal, S.D. Cal. (26-cr-1774-RBM)	Pleaded guilty Oct. 6, 2026, to wire fraud, money laundering and false statement; sentencing Jan. 15, 2027; supervised-release revocation hearing Oct. 20, 2026	[1], [2], [3]

Statuses can change.

Sources

1. U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of California, "Ten-Time Convicted Scammer Pleads Guilty to $1.8 Million Romance Fraud Scheme Targeting Two Elderly Women," press release, Oct. 6, 2026. https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdca/pr/ten-time-convicted-scammer-pleads-guilty-18-million-romance-fraud-scheme-targeting-two
2. City News Service, "RivCo man pleads guilty to bilking women out of $1.8M in romance scam," KESQ, Oct. 6, 2026. https://kesq.com/news/california/2026/10/06/rivco-man-pleads-guilty-to-bilking-women-out-of-1-8m-in-romance-scam/
3. Quinn Welsch, "California man pleads guilty to scamming elderly women out of nearly $2 million," Courthouse News Service, Oct. 6, 2026. https://www.courthousenews.com/california-man-pleads-guilty-to-scamming-elderly-women-out-of-nearly-2-million/
4. Federal Trade Commission, "What To Know About Romance Scams," consumer advice, August 2022. https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-know-about-romance-scams
5. FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, "Scammers Use Couriers to Collect Cash in Cryptocurrency Investment Scams," Alert I-061526-PSA, June 15, 2026. https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2026/PSA260615

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