Abdoul Issaka Assimiou, one of several Ghanaians indicted in the United States who have been accused of orchestrating romance fraud schemes that preyed on elderly American victims, has been jailed.

According to a statement issued by the US Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Ohio, Abdoul Issaka Assimiou, a resident of Parma, Ohio, was sentenced to 63 months (5.25 years) in prison by US District Judge John R. Adams.

The statement indicated that Assimiou was convicted after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Money Laundering in October 2025.

“Abdoul Issaka Assimiou, 38, of Parma, Ohio, was sentenced to 63 months (5.25 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams after pleading guilty in October 2025 to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Money Laundering.

“Assimiou was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $220,485 in restitution to 15 victims,” the statement added.

The statement also indicated that Assimiou, who is 38 years old, defrauded his victims using online dating websites and social media to start romantic relationships with them.

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“According to court records, from December 2017 to March 2024, an international elder fraud and money laundering conspiracy targeted older Americans in the Northern District of Ohio and across the United States. Conspirators used dating websites and social media platforms to interact with victims, creating fake personas to establish close, often romantic, relationships.

“Victims, misled by false stories such as claims of gold inheritances, sent money via wire transfer to accounts controlled by Assimiou and others. For over three years, Assimiou retained portions of these stolen funds and purchased products to ship to co-conspirators in Ghana,” the Attorney General’s office wrote.

In May 2026, the US Department of Justice unveiled a sweeping indictment targeting an international criminal network accused of orchestrating romance fraud schemes that preyed on elderly victims across America.

The announcement comes amid heightened scrutiny of Ghanaian nationals abroad, following the recent arrest of Asante Akyem North MP, Ohene Kwame Frimpong, in the Netherlands.

According to the US Department of Justice news report on May 14, 2026, Federal prosecutors in the United States v Jamal Abubakari, et al. charged three individuals with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Money Laundering:

Jamal Abubakari, 22, aka Arrangement

Kamal Abubakari, 22, aka Lancaster

Amanda Joy Opoku-Boachie, 53, aka Amanda Joy Glum

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All three were arrested in Virginia and remain in custody. Prosecutors allege that between July 2024 and April 2026, the defendants used fake personas on dating sites and social media to lure victims into romantic relationships, then convinced them to send money via wire transfers.

Funds were laundered through US accounts and distributed to co-conspirators in Ghana and elsewhere.

Frederick Kumi and Daniel Yussif, both 31, were charged in December 2025.

In United States v David Onyinye Abuanekwu, et al., several defendants have already been sentenced:

Dwayne Asafo Adjei – 71 months, restitution of $372,943

Nancy Adom – 71 months, restitution of $1,079,559

Eric Aidoo – 71 months, restitution of $668,228

Nader Wasif – 12 months for obstruction of justice

In United States v Otuo Amponsah, et al.:

Otuo Amponsah – 108 months, restitution of $3,324,675

Anna Amponsah – 108 months, restitution of $1,444,639

Portia Joe – 51 months, restitution of $2,035,438

Hannah Adom – 71 months, restitution of $278,894

The department indicated that several others, including Abdoul Issaka Assimiou, whose case has now been ruled on, remain pending trial or sentencing.

BAI