Ms. Lewis had to be really lonely to fall for this scam.
She got some of her money back but not all of it according to Jasmine Brand.
A man named Antonio Mariot Wilson is accused of allegedly orchestrating a romance scam, conning nearly $400,00 out of four women, with one of them being ‘Black-ish’ star Jenifer Lewis. According to reports, Antonio Mariot Wilson met Jenifer Lewis at an LA Fitness gym in Los Angeles where he worked as a manager. Antonio Mariot Wilson was accused of stealing $50,000 from Jenifer Lewis, who plays Ruby on the ABC sitcom Black-ish.
Jenifer told authorities that Antonio Mariot Wilson researched her on the internet before approaching her at a LA Fitness, and eventually things led into starting a romantic relationship.
Three months into their relationship he is said to have persuaded Jenifer to hand over cash to invest in a film industry project after she was told that he was an Oscar-winner, despite the fact he was working as a front desk manager at a gym.
He also lied about his credentials, telling Jenifer and the other victims he was a Navy SEAL, an Oxford University graduate and an Oxford professor teaching biblical antiquities at UCLA. Antonio could face up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced.
Flip the page to see her speak on being conned.