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Lesley Annor, Money Laundering, Gaithersburg MD, 2021
Gaithersburg, MD – A 23-year-old man has confessed to playing a key role in a heartbreaking scheme that preyed on vulnerable seniors, washing over $6.2 million in fraudulently obtained funds. Lesley Annor pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to commit money laundering, admitting his involvement in a complex romance scam targeting elderly and isolated individuals.
The scheme, operating between May 2017 and October 2020, involved luring victims through online platforms – social media, dating sites, email – with fabricated romantic connections. Once trust was established, the con artists spun tales of inheritance and financial hardship, demanding money for supposed fees and expenses. Annor and his co-conspirators then acted as the money mules, receiving and dispersing the ill-gotten gains.
One particularly chilling example involved a 1962-born victim, identified only as Victim 4, who met a woman named “Anita” on a dating website. Anita quickly professed her love and fabricated a story about inheriting money after her parents’ death, claiming she needed funds to cover associated fees. She directed Victim 4 to send money to addresses linked to Annor and other co-conspirators, falsely identifying them as accountants for her grandfather. The victim, believing the deception, cashed out his 401(k) – a staggering $201,000 – and mailed cashier’s checks directly to Annor’s residence. Bank records show over $206,500 from Victim 4 alone was deposited into accounts opened by the conspirators.
The scope of the operation is staggering. Annor and his network laundered over $6.2 million through a web of 34 bank accounts at 11 different financial institutions. A significant portion – at least $447,872 – landed directly in personal bank accounts controlled by Annor. The money, authorities say, was then funneled to co-conspirators in Ghana. This wasn’t a one-off incident; it was a systematic exploitation of trust and vulnerability.
Annor has been in custody since his arrest on November 16, 2020, and now faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel has scheduled sentencing for October 29, 2021. The investigation was a collaborative effort involving the U.S. Secret Service, the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.
Authorities urge potential victims of elder fraud to report incidents. The National Elder Fraud Hotline is available at 1-833-FRAUD-11. Victims can also utilize an interactive tool to determine the appropriate reporting agency or visit the senior scam alert website. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center can be reached online or by phone at 1-800-225-5324. This case serves as a stark reminder of the growing threat of financial exploitation targeting our most vulnerable citizens.
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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