Ohio man pleads guilty to laundering proceeds of $2 million catfishing romance scam

Richard Opoku Agyemang, a 41 year-old Cincinnati man, pleaded guilty as part of a plea deal to money laundering the proceeds of a romance scam that included dozens of victims and more than $2 million.

According to federal investigators, the scam included a network of individuals who used stolen photographs and fake information to create dating profiles.

The victims were then asked to send money to the individuals operating the scam claiming it was for medical expenses and other under false pretenses.

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The money—over $2 million was collected in total—would be sent to accounts controlled by Agyemang.

According to the United States Attorney’s Office Southern District of Ohio, Agyemang was originally charged in April of 2024. He hasn’t been sentenced yet, but his plea deal comes with a recommended sentence of 41 months in federal prison, which equates to just under 3.5 years.

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