A Cincinnati man has been indicted for allegedly scamming dozens of victims out of more than $2 million in a romance-fraud conspiracy.
Richard Opoku Agyemang, 40, of Cincinnati, was indicted by a federal grand jury on 11 counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and engaging in monetary transactions with proceeds of criminal activity.
The indictment alleges that Agyemang conspired with others to use stolen photographs and false information to create profiles on dating websites. The coconspirators allegedly used these false profiles to reach out to victims and establish an online romantic relationship.
The indictment alleges that, eventually, the coconspirators, pretending to be the person pictured in the false profile, would ask the victims to send money, falsely representing that the money was needed for things like medical expenses or to help bring a large inheritance of gold to the United States.
Victims either wired money or deposited checks to accounts allegedly controlled by Agyemang or other members of the conspiracy. Members of the conspiracy would allegedly launder the proceeds of the scheme by making wire and electronic transfers, including to domestic accounts and to accounts in China. According to an affidavit filed in support of a criminal complaint, more than $2 million, transferred from dozens of victims, passed through Agyemang’s accounts.
The indictment also alleges that Agyemang made false statements to the Small Business Administration (SBA) in a Payment Protection Program (PPP) loan application in April 2021, which resulted in the SBA awarding him more than $20,000 in COVID relief to which he was not entitled.
Agyemang appeared in federal court today at 1:30pm before U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen L. Litkovitz and was arraigned on the charges.
Wire fraud and money laundering are punishable by up to 20 years in prison, while engaging in monetary transactions with proceeds of criminal activity is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The crime of making false statements to the SBA is punishable by up to five years in prison.
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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