Two Ghanaian nationals, Mark Dennis, 30, of Laurel, and Charles Mensah, 32, of the Bronx, New York, were sentenced to 27 and 30 months in federal prison, respectively, for their roles in a sprawling 2014 bank and wire fraud conspiracy that attempted to steal nearly $1.4 million from personal, retirement, and business accounts across the U.S. U.S. District Judge George L. Russell handed down the sentences, which include five years of supervised release and joint restitution orders exceeding $229,000. Both men are lawful permanent residents and citizens of Ghana.
The scheme, which unfolded over nine months, relied on stolen account data, forged checks, and corporate shell companies registered in Maryland to siphon funds from compromised accounts. Co-defendant Mohammed Kwaning obtained victims’ financial information through phishing calls and email hacks, then funneled fraudulent wire transfers and fake checks into accounts opened by Dennis, Mensah, and others under these shell entities. Once the money landed, the crew moved fast—attempting to withdraw as much cash as possible before banks flagged the transactions.
According to trial evidence from a 10-day proceeding, some victims were targeted by fraudsters posing as account holders, calling investment firms and answering security questions to reset passwords. In other cases, conspirators infiltrated email accounts and issued fraudulent wire instructions, directing retirement funds into the shell accounts they controlled. Although the total attempted loss topped $1.3 million, the group successfully withdrew and split over $229,000 in stolen funds.
Dennis and Mensah were not the only players. Mohammed Kwaning was convicted at the same trial and awaits sentencing. Others involved—Badu, Mohammed, Davies, and Fosu—have already pleaded guilty. Badu received six months in prison; sentencing for the rest remains pending. The network operated with chilling precision, exploiting gaps in financial authentication systems and relying on disposable accounts and layers of deception.
Acting U.S. Attorney Stephen M. Schenning, who announced the sentences, praised the investigative work of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore and the Baltimore County Police Department. “This was a coordinated, cross-jurisdictional fraud ring that weaponized stolen identities and shell corporations to drain life savings and retirement funds,” Schenning said. “Today’s sentences send a message: we will track down and prosecute those who turn identity theft into a criminal enterprise.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul E. Budlow and Judson T. Mihok. Court records confirm that as part of their sentencing, Dennis and Mensah must each pay more than $229,000 in restitution. The crackdown underscores federal efforts to dismantle transnational fraud networks—even as such scams grow more sophisticated and harder to trace.
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Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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