Twenty-Four Individuals Charged with $30 Million Fraud and Money Laundering Scheme
Atlanta, GA - Twenty-four individuals have been arrested and charged with their roles in a wide-ranging fraud and money laundering scheme. Here’s what we know about this complex crime net:
The Criminal Enterprise
According to the indictment unsealed in federal court in Atlanta, the defendants are accused of running schemes such as:
- Business email compromise
- Romance scams
- Retirement account fraud
The fraudulent schemes resulted in losses amounting to over $30 million for unsuspecting victims across the United States.
U.S. Attorney’s Condemnation
Byung J. “BJay” Pak, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, condemned the criminal enterprise, stating:
“Fraud schemes, like the ones perpetrated and facilitated by these defendants, inflict significant losses on citizens, companies, and the financial system. Some of these schemes targeted the elderly and often depleted their life savings. These arrests demonstrate the Department of Justice’s commitment to prosecuting those who exploit our most vulnerable citizens.”
The FBI’s Appreciation
Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Atlanta, echoed Pak’s sentiments, expressing appreciation for law enforcement partners involved in the investigation:
“There is no way we can make the victims of these schemes whole again. However, the arrests and upcoming prosecutions will bring the perpetrators to justice and provide victims with a sense of closure and accountability.”
Specific Schemes and Defendants
The schemes detailed in the indictment include:
Business Email Compromise
Business email compromise scams tricked employees into unwittingly authorizing the transfer of funds to controlled accounts.
Romance Scams
Romance scams targeted senior citizens, using fake online dating profiles to trick vulnerable individuals into sending money to scammers.
Retirement Account Fraud
Retirement account fraud saw third-party administrators tricked into distributing funds to imposters using victims’ identities and PII.
Some of the defendants and their charges are:
- Darius Sowah Okang: Business email compromise, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft
- Dominique Raquel Golden, Blessing Oluwatimilehin Ojo, George Kodjo Edem Adatsi, Desire Elorm Tamakloe, Solomon Agyapong, Afeez Olaide Adeniran, Jonathan Kojo Agbemafle, Joshua Roberts, Hamza Abdallah, Prince Sheriff Okai, Kelvin Prince Boateng, Monique Wheeler, Matthan Bolaji Ibidapo, Stephen Abbu Jenkins, Kahlia Andrea Siddiqui, Alexus Ciera Johnson, Abubakar Sadik Ibrahim, Emanuela Joe Joseph, Obinna Nwosu, Ojebe Obewu Ojebe, Gregory Thomas Hudson
Additional Cases and Investigations
Two related cases charging additional defendants are currently pending in federal court in Atlanta. These defendants are facing various counts of bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, money laundering, and conspiracies to commit these offenses.
Law Enforcement’s Collaboration
The FBI, Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, U.S. Secret Service, and Homeland Security Investigations are investigating this case, with substantial support from various federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) initiative oversees the operation.
Public Reminder
The indictments represent charges only, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. For more information on fraud schemes and ways to protect oneself, visit https://www.justice.gov/elderjustice/senior-scam-alert.
Contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office for more details at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.