NEW JERSEY — A Massachusetts man has been convicted of laundering about $1.2 million stolen from victims across the United States through internet-enabled romance scams, federal prosecutors announced.
Manaseh Mintah, 43, of Dracut, Massachusetts, was convicted Sept. 28 of one count of money laundering conspiracy, three counts of money laundering and one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.
The verdict followed a two-week trial before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court. Mintah is scheduled to be sentenced March 16, 2027.
“Cyber-enabled fraud schemes take advantage of vulnerable Americans, especially older Americans, stealing their hard-earned life savings and destroying families’ financial security. Transnational criminal networks may think that they can hide behind computer monitors, but our office, alongside our federal partners, will relentlessly track down these bad actors and the people who launder money on behalf of these criminal networks,” U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer said.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Mintah laundered money sent directly to him by victims of internet-enabled romance scams through numerous bank accounts opened in his own name and under Dazionking LLC, a shell business entity he formed to launder money.
Prosecutors said Mintah moved proceeds from the Dazionking accounts and his personal account to co-conspirators through wire transfers, cash withdrawals and other means.
As part of the scheme, Mintah received and transferred at least approximately $1.2 million, knowing the transactions were intended to disguise or conceal proceeds from criminal activity, according to prosecutors.
“Romance-scam network operators believe themselves untouchable, hiding behind keyboards and laundering money through shell companies with impunity,” said FBI Newark Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy. “But reality hits hard when they hear a guilty verdict read out loud in a U.S. federal court. The FBI Newark Joint Organized Crime Task Force disrupts transnational groups to protect Americans who are being targeted and prevent them from losing their life savings to these malicious criminals.”
“Romance scams prey on the trust of vulnerable individuals and too often shatter their finances and lives. This verdict makes it clear that those who move illicit funds for fraudsters will be held accountable,” stated Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan, IRS Criminal Investigation, Newark Field Office. “IRS-CI is dedicated to partnering with fellow law enforcement agencies to expose financial crimes that victimize our citizens.”
The money laundering conspiracy charge and one of the money laundering charges each carry a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Two other money laundering charges each carry a maximum sentence of 10 years, while the charge of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business carries a maximum sentence of five years.
Each money laundering charge also carries a potential fine of up to $500,000, while the unlicensed money transmitting business charge carries a potential fine of up to $250,000.
