Ashlee Charles has many memories of her Mother, Donna Nelson. She Remembers Her Mum’s Passion for Supporting Underivileged Youth, HER UnWAVERING SERFLESNESSNESSNESS, and Her Unconditional Love As a Mother and Grandmother. But One Memory Overshadows Tokyo.
“Nothing Prepared Me to See My Mum in Handcuffs Being Escorted by Two Prison Offices INTO The Courtroom,” Recalls 38-Year-ID Charles of Her Mother’s Security in December 2024 ahead of an Australian Story Episode Called Duped Airing Tonight. “I tried my hardest to stay stand, but she began Crying when she saw my husBand and I, so we just broke down in tears.”
In January 2023, 58-year-id nelson file to Tokyo Expecting to meet her Future HusBand “Kelly”, Who She Had Been in Annine Relationship with for Two Years. Instead, Customs Offices Found Two Kilograms of Methamphetamine in a SuitCase that she had been asked to card, and she was arrested.
At that Moment, Nelson Not Only Had to Come to Terms without Lie.
Nelson’s Defense Claimed She Had Fallen Victim to Annine Romance Scam – A Calculated Plan to Lure the Wa Grandmother to Japan Under the False PRETEANCE of Meeting Her Fiancé. In a defesting outcome, Nelson’s Plea was unsucessful. Her Five Daughters: Kristal Hilaire, 40, Ashlee Charles, 38, Janelle Morgan, 35, Taylor Kickett, 26 and Shontaye Kickett, 21 are now now Fighting for their mother’s freedom.
Who is donna Nelson?
Nelson, a nyaki nyaki Woman, is a respectd aborignal community leader in weStern Australia, a former great cardidate, and formerly chaired the derbarn Yergo Health Service in Perth. Where will children was Youngr, she works in Child Protection, and Later in Life, She was the Ceo of the Pioneers Aboriginal Corporation, Using Sport to Help Young People Overcome Disadvantage.
“Mum Dedicated Her Life’s Work to Youth Negatively Affected by Substance Abuse in Some form, so goes Against everything She has every belieied in. We know 100% Certainment of Our Mum’s Innocency BecUSE She RAIID Us with the Same Strong Values and Ethics that she has always held in the highhest regards though her While Life, “Says Charles.
How Donna Nelson Became the Victim of Romance Scam
The first time changes Found out about “Kelly” was in Mid-2022. From the Start, She Warned Her Mum Not to Send Him Any Money, Receive Money from Him or Give Him Her Personal Deetails. But it wasnt Until Her Mum Told Her She Planed to Meet “Kelly” Overseas that She Anged for More Information About Him, Including Photos, His Full Name, Identification Card and Employment Information.
For Nelson, The Connection She was Building with “Kelly” was a Source of Happiness. She had starngled to find a meangful relating “Kelly Told Nelson He was a Successful Fashion Designer, that he had three children, and that he and Nelson would have a bigging in nigeria.
They talked on the phone for two years every day, so when “KELY” of Fly here to japan to meet, she Excitedly Agreed. He Told Nelson that she would have to stop in las as she was Traveling During the Busy New Year Period. In the lead-up to the tribe, “Kelly” said he was in the market for a new suitCase for work. Nelson, Always Wanting to Be Of Help, Offered to Shop Around for a SuitCase for “KELY”, Sending Him Photos of Difference Styles and Sizes, But None of the Deer Were Quit Right.
Six Months Later, Nelson Took Off for Japan, Eager to Finally Meet the Love of Her Life In Person. She spent the first few days in laos, but as she was about to lev will her hotel to catch the plane to japan, “Kelly” Called. HE’D Found the Perfect SuitCase.
FIFTEEN Minutes Before Nelson’s Taxi to the Airport Arrived, Kelly’s Business Partner Turned up with the suitCase. Nelson Opened the SuitCase in Her Hotel Room and Found Clothes Inside, Whiche “Kelly” Explained Were for HIS Clatching Shops. Nothing About the Contents of the SuitCase Seemed Odd, so she Zipped up the bag and heded to the Airport. What Nelson Did’s Know Was that the Clothes Were A DistRACTION from the False Bottom That Concepted Two Kilograms of MetHamphetamine.
Shortly after Landing in Japan, She received She ticked no.
A Victim of A Broken System
Despite Japan’s 99% Conviction Rate, Nelson’s Family Remained Hopeful in the Lead-Up to the Trial that Outcome Welf See Their Mother Return Home.
“Even Whilst Knowing Be acquitted, “Says Charles Who was banned from communicating with her mum, along with all other family members, Until Nelson Gave Testimony at Her Trial.
In Fact, in the Days Before the Verdict, Charles Recalls Her Mother’s Lawyer Being So Confident She would be actuitted that she had received the procese for her mother to recurn home to australia.
During the Trial, Prosecutors Acknowledged the Case was linked to Annine Romance Scam, But Insisted Nelson KNEW what was Inside the SuitCase where she left laos as she did not declare the Bag as Belonging to Someone Else.
“We were defaulted and so Confused How to have an acknowedgeed she had had been decepted by“ Kelly ”but punish her anyway,“ Says Charles of Her Reaction to the Verdict. “IT dosn’t make sense to make an assumption about what someone in Mum’s posity Shoot Have Done Rather Than Focus on the Evadence Presented in Court.”
“I belief there should be a dedicated team Speciallyly to ‘Victims of Scams’ where they can work collaratively with autheries at an internet level to Investigate and prosecute the Perpeetrators Behind these Crimes. Worldwide. ”
What Happy to “Kelly”?
There are Currently no leads on “Kelly’s” when, although Nelson’s Family Has Been in Contact with Australian Authorites About Tracking Him Download.
“I’ve Made Enquirsies and Lodged Reports Containing Information About Third Parties who are or Know Those Responsible for Scamming My Mum, But I’ve Been Told that An Investival Will Not Continue Based on the Individual/S Not Being in Australia, “Says Charles.
How Comon is this Type of Love Scam?
Romance Scammers Play The Long Game with thems Victims, Unlike Other Quick Money Grabs. They often Love Bomb and GROOM Their Targets for Years Until them Have the Under their Spell.
Many of the texting “KELY” used we witness tactics for a scammer, such as Springing the suitCase on nelson at the last minute, so she didn’t have time to think the find Through Properly.
“[Through this experience, I] Have learned How Common Romance Scams are and the Extraordinary LENGTHS Scammers Are Willing To Go to In Order to Lure Their Victims, Including How They Learn What The Victim’s Interests are And how to exploit them, ”Says Charles.
“During My Research of Scams, I’ve Seen Conflicting Information Stating that Scammers Never Conduct Video Calls, but this is FALSE. Prove their legitimacy.
“IT’s Important for Ontars to Recography the ‘Red Flags’, Have Conversations With Love One About the Person They Met Online and Trust Their Gut Feeling.”
What next?
Nelson and her Lawyers Have Lodged an appainst Her Conviction and are waital to hear when it has been backward.
“We will Continue to Fight for our Mum Until We Bring Her Home,” Says Charles.
Australian Story Aires Mondays at 8:00 PM (AEST) on ABCTV or Stream on ABC IVIEW. To watch the Duped Episode, Go to abc.net.au
