CINCINNATI – De-love Kofi Amuzu, 25, of Fairfield, Ohio, is headed to federal prison for 78 months after being sentenced today for his crucial role in washing dirty money from a sophisticated romance fraud that preyed on vulnerable elderly Americans. The scheme, built on fabricated online personas and broken trust, funneled over $1.1 million through Amuzu’s accounts before investigators caught up.
Court documents paint a bleak picture of the conspiracy. Scammers created bogus profiles on dating sites, stealing photos and crafting false backstories to lure in lonely hearts. They’d build relationships with victims through online chats, texts, and phone calls, meticulously playing the part of the person in the profile – often claiming to live overseas as a convenient excuse to avoid meeting in person. The goal? To bleed the victims dry.
And that’s where Amuzu came in. The conspirators instructed their victims to wire transfer funds – often tens of thousands of dollars at a time – directly into accounts controlled by Amuzu. But it didn’t stop there. Victims were also manipulated into mailing Amuzu cash, Rolex watches, and even iPhones. Once the ill-gotten gains landed in his possession, Amuzu laundered the money, sending it onward to accounts in Ghana, effectively masking the source of the stolen funds.
The impact on the victims was devastating. “Several victims lost so much money to the scheme that they were forced to declare bankruptcy,” stated Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. Amuzu was ordered to pay $835,487.65 in restitution, a small consolation for the emotional and financial ruin left in the wake of the fraud. Anyone suspecting elder fraud can call 1-833-FRAUD-11 or visit www.Justice.gov/elderjustice for more information.
Amuzu was indicted by a federal grand jury in 2022 and pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder money on February 2, 2024. His sentencing is part of the Justice Department’s National Elder Justice Sweep, a nationwide initiative aimed at raising awareness and cracking down on scams targeting the elderly. The case was a collaborative effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI Cincinnati Division (led by Special Agent in Charge Elena Iatarola), the Butler County Prosecutor’s Office (led by Michael T. Gmoser), and the Butler County Sheriff’s Office (led by Richard K. Jones).
Assistant United States Attorney Julie D. Garcia is prosecuting the case, with key contributions from Garrett Baker, Susan Monnin, and Investigator Steve Isgro of the Butler County Prosecutor’s Office. U.S. District Judge Timothy S. Black handed down the sentence, sending a clear message that exploiting vulnerable seniors for financial gain will not be tolerated. This case serves as a grim reminder to stay vigilant and protect loved ones from the ever-evolving tactics of online fraudsters.
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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