Millville, New Jersey, man Rubbin Sarpong, 37, admitted today to masterminding a sprawling romance fraud scheme that snared at least 40 victims and stole $1.76 million through lies, stolen identities, and fake military personas. Sarpong pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion in a scheme that stretched from New Jersey to Ghana.
From January 2016 to September 3, 2019, Sarpong and co-conspirators—many based in Ghana—crafted elaborate online dating profiles using stolen photos and fictitious names, posing as U.S. military personnel deployed overseas. They targeted vulnerable individuals on dating sites, building false romantic bonds before demanding money for the supposed shipment of gold bars from Syria. The gold never existed. The military service was fake. The promises of repayment? A lie from the start.
Victims were instructed via email and VOIP numbers to wire funds to accounts controlled by Sarpong—including 13 bank accounts under his name, friends, relatives, and a shell business, Rubbin Sarpong Autosales. Some sent cashier’s checks or used Western Union and MoneyGram. The money was never used to ship gold. Instead, it was cashed out, funneled through domestic accounts, and wired overseas to co-conspirators in Ghana.
While defrauding victims, Sarpong lived lavishly. He bought property in Ghana and flaunted stacks of cash, luxury cars, designer clothes, and expensive jewelry on social media—photos that now serve as evidence of his ill-gotten gains. Despite earning approximately $1.14 million from the scam between 2016 and 2018, Sarpong filed no tax returns and paid zero in federal income taxes, causing a loss of $387,923 to the IRS.
Each count of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy carries up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine—or twice the value of the scheme, whichever is greater. The tax evasion charge adds up to five years and another $250,000 fine. As part of his plea, Sarpong agreed to pay full restitution: $1.76 million to victims, $387,923 to the IRS, and repayment to federal and state agencies for Medicaid and SNAP benefits he fraudulently collected from September 2018 to August 2019.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 21, 2022, before U.S. District Judge Renée Marie Bumb. Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig said the case exemplifies the cruelty of romance scammers who weaponize loneliness for profit. The FBI’s Atlantic City Resident Agency led the investigation, with support from federal and international partners. More arrests are expected as the probe continues.
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Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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