CINCINNATI – A federal grand jury has charged a former Fairfield and Cincinnati man with crimes related to an online romance fraud scheme.
De-love Kofi Amuzu, 23, was arrested on Jan. 13 in the Bronx and will appear in federal court in Cincinnati at 1:30pm today.
According to the 10-count indictment, from 2018 until his arrest in 2022, Amuzu conspired with others to perpetrate an online romance fraud scheme and to launder the proceeds of the scheme, including by wiring funds to Ghana. The co-conspirators allegedly created profiles on dating websites using false information and pictures of other individuals.
It is alleged that the co-conspirators led victims to believe they were in a romantic relationship with the person pictured in the false online profile and then made misrepresentations to the victims that induced them to transfer or mail money and valuables to members of the conspiracy.
According to the charging document, Amuzu used multiple bank accounts in furtherance of the scheme, including a bank account opened in the name of a shell company, Obdomdel Management Agency LLC.
Amuzu is charged with conspiring to commit and committing wire and mail fraud, as well as conspiring to launder money and committing money laundering. Each is a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cincinnati Division; Butler County Prosecutor Michael T. Gmoser and Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones announced the charges. U.S. Attorney Parker also recognized the contributions of Garrett Baker and Susan Monnin of the Butler County Prosecutor’s Office, as well as Butler County Prosecutor’s Investigator Steve Isgro. Assistant United States Attorney Julie D. Garcia is representing the United States in this case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
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