Ten-time convicted scammer charged in new $1.5 million romance fraud targeting elderly woman

Date: May 22, 2026

Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov

San Diego, CA – Troy Clinton Van Sickle of Temecula appeared in federal court today to face charges that he stole more than $1.5 million from an elderly woman he claimed to be romantically interested in, and that he obstructed federal law enforcement efforts to investigate the alleged fraud scheme.

According to the indictment and court records, Van Sickle – a 10-time convicted felon who worked as a janitor at a San Diego County preschool – targeted a wealthy divorced woman and cultivated what appeared to be a romantic relationship in order to gain access to her finances. Prosecutors allege that Van Sickle concealed his criminal history, which included convictions for fraud, theft, extortion, and perjury, and instead portrayed himself as a trustworthy and successful businessman.

After gaining the victim’s confidence, Van Sickle allegedly claimed he was facing financial hardship and needed money from the victim to pursue business deals and investment opportunities. He allegedly promised to repay the funds promptly and share future profits.

But it was all a lie. Van Sickle did not intend to repay the woman. He used her money to enrich himself and others and to pay for personal expenses, including to make payments on luxury cars, gamble at casinos, and send money to other women.

The government also alleges that Van Sickle created a miniature replica car company and provided the woman a fake multimillion-dollar contract between the company and Lotus Cars to give the impression that his company was legitimate. The woman sent the contract to her financial advisor and wired $150,000 to Van Sickle to fund the purported agreement. Van Sickle then used the money to purchase a 2022 Ferrari SF90 Stradale worth $650,000.

According to the indictment, Van Sickle was on federal supervision for a prior fraud conviction at the time of the criminal offense. He had been ordered to pay $250,000 in restitution to nine victims of that offense and was required to truthfully and accurately report his financial resources to his probation officer. 

To conceal the offense and avoid paying restitution, Van Sickle submitted a false financial packet signed under penalty of perjury to his probation officer that did not include the money he received from the woman, the luxury cars he had purchased and sold, and his gambling winnings and losses.

According to the indictment, upon learning that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had contacted the woman to discuss the money she had wired him, Van Sickle manipulated and exploited her to delete text messages, lie to law enforcement, and sign a false and fraudulent promissory note to make the wired proceeds appear simply as lump-sum loan payable over a 10-year period. Van Sickle also directed the woman to sign a false statement to make it appear as though Van Sickle had already made a $140,000 payment to her through the note. Van Sickle disclosed the woman’s payments to his probation officer, along with the false promissory note and statement, and lied that he had already made a $140,000 payment to the woman. 

Between 2022 and 2023, Van Sickle received approximately 20 money transfers from the woman totaling more than $1.5 million. He has not repaid any of the money to date.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick C. Swan and Sarah M. Fix.

Defendant

• Troy Clinton Van Sickle, Temecula, California

Summary of charges

• Wire Fraud – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1343
  • Maximum penalty: Thirty years in prison and $250,000 fine
• Money Laundering – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1957
  • Maximum penalty: Ten years in prison and $250,000 fine
• False Writing or Document – Title 18, U.S.C., Sections 1001(a)(3) and 2
  • Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine
• Falsification of Record in Federal Investigation – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1519
  • Maximum penalty: Twenty years in prison and $250,000 fine
• False Statement – Title 18, U.S.C., Section 1001(a)(2)
  • Maximum penalty: Five years in prison and $250,000 fine

Investigating agencies

• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation

IRS-CI is the law enforcement arm of the IRS, responsible for conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, narcotics trafficking, money laundering, public corruption, healthcare fraud, identity theft and more. It is the only federal law enforcement agency with investigative jurisdiction over violations of the Internal Revenue Code. IRS-CI has 18 field offices located across the U.S. and maintains an international presence through attaché posts abroad.