ALEXANDRIA, VA – Ishmael Kayede, 40, of Woodbridge, was sentenced today to 15 months in prison for his role in a money laundering operation connected to romance and investment fraud schemes. Kayede conspired with multiple individuals, primarily based in Ghana, to launder money gained through fraudulent activities from 2014 to March 2019.
The operation largely preyed on elderly victims in the United States, exploiting their trust built through online dating websites like match.com. Victims sent money to Kayede’s bank accounts, which he then transferred to his associates in Ghana. If he encountered difficulties moving the money, he lied to bank officials about the source and purpose of the funds. The scheme caused financial losses ranging from thousands of dollars to over a hundred thousand dollars per victim. In total, Kayede laundered around $1.3 million.
The Department of Justice places high priority on combating financial fraud aimed at seniors and is committed to taking enforcement action, training, research, victim services, and public awareness efforts to address the issue.
For those aged 60 or older who have been victims of financial fraud, assistance is available through the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). The hotline operates from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, and offers support in English, Spanish, and other languages.