Atlantic City Gambler Admits Defrauding Many Women Across The Country
-Used Dating Services to Target Victims-

CAMDEN - An Atlantic City gambler pleaded guilty today to wire fraud charges for his scheme to defraud more than 80 women across the United States whom he had targeted through the use of phone dating services, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

Patrick M. Giblin, 41, entered his guilty plea to 10 counts of wire fraud before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 18 at 9:30 a.m.

Giblin was charged in a 15-count Second Superseding Indictment returned on Oct. 12, 2005, with extortion and wire fraud in connection with his a scheme to defraud victims using companies such as Quest Personals and Lavalife, which offer dating services such as telephone connections, chat rooms and email exchanges.

The Indictment states that from January 2000 until March 2005, Giblin created numerous accounts in his name on dating services. The accounts often corresponded to geographic areas of the nation allowing him to target women in those areas. Some of those areas include, but are not limited to, Albany, N.Y., Richmond, Va., Charlotte, N.C., Savannah, Ga., Orlando, Fla., Dayton, Ohio, Nashville, Tenn., Houston, Texas, and Kansas City, Mo.

At his plea hearing, Giblin admitted he would target single women through the dating services and then cultivate a telephone rapport with each woman over the course of days or weeks. Shortly thereafter, Giblin would falsely profess his interest in pursuing a romantic relationship.

According to the Indictment, in many instances, Giblin would prey on the vulnerabilities of the targeted woman. For example, Giblin would promise to end the loneliness of a woman who had recently ended a long-term relationship or promise to soothe a woman who recently suffered the death of a loved one, according to the Indictment.

Giblin admitted he lied to each woman telling her that he would be relocating or traveling to her geographic area. Giblin admitted he would falsely claim that he needed money for relocation or travel expenses and then would request a loan from each woman for such expenses. Giblin admitted he promised to repay the loans immediately upon his arrival in her location. He directed the targeted woman to use Western Union to wire the money to him, Giblin admitted.

Giblin admitted he spent the money he received from the women at casinos in Atlantic City and Las Vegas and for personal expenses.

On March 3, 2005, Giblin was arrested on a Criminal Complaint charging extortion of an Ohio woman identified as CB. On June 1, Giblin was indicted on the one count of extortion in connection with the Ohio victim. A Superseding Indictment was returned July 20, 2005, charged six counts of extortion and 15 counts of wire fraud.

Giblin has remained in federal detention without bail since his arrest on March 3, 2005.

Each wire fraud count carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Five counts of extortion will be dismissed at sentencing.

Christie credited Special Agents of the FBI Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Leslie Wiser, Jr., in Newark, and the Atlantic City Police Department, under the direction of Chief John J. Mooney.

The Government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ronald Chillemi and Matthew Skahill of the Criminal Division in Camden.

- end -

Defense Attorney: Christopher O'Malley, Esq. Asst. Fed. Public Defender