FORT EDWARD -- State Police have charged a Hudson Falls man they say was part of a scam that preyed upon a woman on an Internet dating site and tricked her into sending money to Nigeria.

Michael Fleeman, 48,  allegedly kept a bank account for an illicit operation that was used to send $150,000 to $250,000 to unknown recipients in the African country, police said.

State Police described the sequence of events as follows:

A woman in New Mexico contacted police and said she had met a man on a dating site. After several romantic communications between them, the man claimed to be stuck in the Middle East and needed money for airfare to return to the United States. The woman wired money to a bank account that turned out to be the one controlled by Fleeman. Police learned victims of similar circumstances had all sent money to Fleeman's bank account. Fleeman would keep a share of the money before forwarding it on.

Police charged Fleeman with third-degree grand larceny, a felony which carries 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison upon conviction. He was arraigned in Town Court in Fort Edward and is scheduled to have a future appearance in Kingsbury Town Court.

The State Police Financial Crimes Unit and Hudson Falls police investigated the case. Police ask anyone with additional information to call 518-692-3015.