Ashlee Charles has many memories of her mother, Donna Nelson. She remembers her mum’s passion for supporting underprivileged youth, her unwavering selflessness, and her unconditional love as a mother and grandmother. But one memory overshadows the rest these days: the day her mum stood helplessly in a Japanese courtroom after being sentenced to six years in prison for smuggling methamphetamine into Tokyo.
“Nothing prepared me to see my mum in handcuffs being escorted by two prison officers into the courtroom,” recalls 38-year-old Charles of her mother’s sentencing in December 2024 ahead of an Australian Story episode called Duped airing tonight. “I tried my hardest to stay strong, but she began crying when she saw my husband and I, so we just broke down in tears.”
In January 2023, 58-year-old Nelson flew to Tokyo expecting to meet her future husband “Kelly”, who she had been in an online relationship with for two years. Instead, customs officers found two kilograms of methamphetamine in a suitcase that she had been asked to carry, and she was arrested.
At that moment, Nelson not only had to come to terms with the legal severity of the crime she was being charged with but also the realisation that her relationship with the love of her life had been a lie.
Nelson’s defence claimed she had fallen victim to an online romance scam – a calculated plan to lure the WA grandmother to Japan under the false pretence of meeting her fiancé. In a devastating outcome, Nelson’s plea was unsuccessful. Her five daughters: Kristal Hilaire, 40, Ashlee Charles, 38, Janelle Morgan, 35, Taylor Kickett, 26 and Shontaye Kickett, 21 are now fighting for their mother’s freedom.
Who Is Donna Nelson?
Nelson, a Nyaki Nyaki woman, is a respected Aboriginal community leader in Western Australia, a former Greens candidate, and formerly chaired the Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service in Perth. When her children were younger, she worked 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 it goes against everything she has ever believed in. We know with 100% certainty of our mum’s innocence because she raised us with the same strong values and ethics that she has always held in the highest regard throughout her whole life,” says Charles.
How Donna Nelson Became The Victim Of Romance Scam
The first time Charles found out about “Kelly” was in mid-2022 when her mum told her that she had met a man through the online dating site, Afro Introductions. From the start, she warned her mum not to send him any money, receive money from him or give him her personal details. But it wasn’t until her mum told her she planned to meet “Kelly” overseas that she asked 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 struggled to find a meaningful relationship after her girl’s father left her when she was pregnant with Shontaye. “Kelly told Nelson he was a successful fashion designer, that he had three children, and that he and Nelson would have a big wedding in Nigeria.
They talked on the phone for two years every day, so when “Kelly” offered to fly her to Japan to meet, she excitedly agreed. He told Nelson that she would have to stop in Laos as she was travelling during the busy New Year period. In the lead-up to the trip, “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 “Kelly”, sending him photos of different styles and sizes, but none of them were quite 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 leave 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, which “Kelly” explained were for his clothing shops. Nothing about the contents of the suitcase seemed odd, so she zipped up the bag and headed to the airport. What Nelson didn’t know was that the clothes were a distraction from the false bottom that concealed two kilograms of methamphetamine.
Shortly after landing in Japan, she received a customs declaration form asking if she was bringing anything others had asked her to into the country. 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 the outcome would see their mother return home.
“Even whilst knowing the high conviction rate, we still were hopeful that once the Judge heard the truth and saw the evidence, it would be clear that our Mum is innocent and she would 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 acquitted that she researched the process for her mother to return home to Australia.
During the trial, prosecutors acknowledged the case was linked to an online romance scam, but insisted Nelson knew what was inside the suitcase when she left Laos as she did not declare the bag as belonging to someone else.
“We were devastated and so confused how they could acknowledge she had been deceived by “Kelly” but punish her anyway,” says Charles of her reaction to the verdict. “It doesn’t make sense to make an assumption about what someone in Mum’s position should have done rather than focus on the evidence presented in court.”
“I believe there should be a dedicated team specifically to ‘victims of scams’ where they can work collaboratively with authorities at an international level to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators behind these crimes. If the perpetrators are not held accountable, their organisations will become increasingly advanced in their tactics and continue to victimise a lot more people worldwide.”
What Happened To “Kelly”?
There are currently no leads on “Kelly’s” whereabouts, although Nelson’s family has been in contact with Australian authorities about tracking him down.
“I’ve made enquiries 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 investigation will not continue based on the individual/s not being in Australia,” says Charles.
How Common Is This Type Of Love Scam?
Romance scammers play the long game with their victims, unlike other quick money grabs. They often love bomb and groom their targets for years until they have them under their spell.
Many of the techniques “Kelly” used were textbook tactics for a scammer, such as springing the suitcase on Nelson at the last minute, so she didn’t have time to think the situation 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. In fact, many scammers have video calls with the victim to prove their legitimacy.
“It’s important for others to recognise the ‘red flags’, have conversations with loved ones about the person they met online and trust their gut feeling.”
What Next?
Nelson and her lawyers have lodged an appeal against her conviction and are waiting to hear whether it has been approved.
“We will continue to fight for our Mum until we bring her home,” says Charles.
Australian Story airs Mondays at 8:00pm (AEST) on ABCTV or stream on ABC iview. To watch the Duped episode, go to abc.net.au
