Ghanaian national sentenced to 63 months for romance fraud and money laundering in US
Abdoul Issaka Assimiou, a 38-year-old resident of Parma, Ohio, has been sentenced to 63 months 5.25 years in prison by US District Judge John R. Adams. Assimiou pleaded guilty in October 2025 to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Money Laundering. He was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $220,485 in restitution to 15 victims. According to court records, from December 2017 to March 2024, Assimiou was involved in an international elder fraud and money laundering conspiracy. He used online dating websites and social media to establish romantic relationships with victims, misleading them with false stories, such as claims of gold inheritances. Victims were convinced to send money via wire transfer to accounts controlled by Assimiou and others. Assimiou retained portions of these stolen funds and purchased products to ship to co-conspirators in Ghana. This sentencing is part of a broader effort by the US Department of Justice, which in May 2026, unveiled an indictment targeting an international criminal network accused of orchestrating romance fraud schemes preying on elderly American victims. Other Ghanaian nationals have also been charged or sentenced in connection with similar schemes, including Jamal Abubakari, Kamal Abubakari, Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie, Frederick Kumi, Daniel Yussif, Dwayne Asafo Adjei, Nancy Adom, Eric Aidoo, Nader Wasif, Otuo Amponsah, Anna Amponsah, Portia Joe, and Hannah Adom.
