Maryland Man Sentenced for Role in Multi-Million Dollar Money Laundering Conspiracy

Baltimore, Maryland - A Hyattsville, Maryland, man learned his fate in federal court today, in connection with a multi-million-dollar money laundering scheme.

Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced Victor Killen, 33, to 63 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiring to engage in a large, multi-member, money laundering conspiracy. Judge Maddox also ordered Killen to pay $7,070,656.46 million in restitution and a $3-million order of forfeiture. Killen, who pled guilty to participating in the money laundering conspiracy in December 2025, admitted that at least $3 million in money laundering occurred pursuant to his direct participation in the conspiracy.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Heck, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) - Maryland; Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) - Washington, D.C. Field Office; and Acting Special Agent in Charge George Golliday, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Inspector General (EPA-OIG).

According to court documents, beginning in 2021, and continuing into February 2024, Killen conspired with multiple individuals to launder proceeds of a large-scale wire fraud. The co-conspirators engaged in various financial transactions to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the wire-fraud proceeds, while carrying out the conspiracy.

The victims included government agencies, organizations, and companies, including an environmental trust, urban redevelopment program, medical center, transportation and logistics company, school district, college, and county government, among others.

Killen and his co-conspirators used and controlled several different encrypted electronic communication accounts, which they used in furtherance of the money laundering, including to supervise and manage the money laundering conspiracy. The co-conspirators worked with each other to create limited liability companies to serve as shell entities; open bank accounts and/or cause bank accounts to be opened in the name of shell entities; and receive and launder fraud proceeds.

Pursuant to the conspiracy, the co-conspirators often engaged in multiple financial transactions in quick succession, frequently layering wire-fraud proceeds in multiple subsequent transactions. These financial transactions made it more difficult for the victims and law enforcement to recover the fraud proceeds.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland previously charged 14 defendants in connection with the money laundering conspiracy. Thirteen have pled guilty. Faizou Gnora, 28, previously of Alexandria, Virginia, remains a fugitive from justice.

In connection with this prosecution, Yahya Sowe, 42, of Silver Spring, Maryland, Gedeon Agbeyome, 31, of Montgomery County, Maryland, and Areal El-Lovieta Harris, 24, of Hanover, Maryland, previously pled guilty, admitting to conspiring to commit money laundering.

Additionally, Adanegbe Gift Osemwenkhae, 39, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland; Emily Gil Arias, 28, of Silver Spring, Maryland; Fatoumata Boiro, 32, of Largo, Maryland; Lawrence Ogunsanwo, 33; Lakeisha Parker, 33, of Baltimore, Maryland; Martin Ogisi, 37, of Severn, Maryland; Blondel Ndjouandjouaka, 31, of Silver Spring, Maryland; Kevin Colon, 34, of Curtis Bay, Maryland; and Lorena Perez Herrera, 29, of Silver Spring, Maryland, previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Agbeyome also admitted engaging in aggravated identity theft and Parker acknowledged engaging in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud. As part of his plea agreement, Gift and Sowe admitted that they served as managers or supervisors of the money laundering conspiracy. The overall conspiracy involved more than $20 million of money laundering, involving more than 15 different victim entities.

The District Court previously sentenced:

• Agbeyome to 48 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, along with restitution of $2,938,424.65, and a $2.8 million preliminary order of forfeiture
• Ogunsanwo to 40 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release and restitution of $5,648,816.23
• Parker to 36 months in federal prison, followed by three years supervised release and restitution of $8,306,930.95
• Ogisi to 33 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release and restitution of $11,077,044.17
• Ndjouandjouaka to 24 months in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release and restitution of $733,941.48
• Colon to 27 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release and restitution of $2,515,159.63

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative, which seeks to end the presence of criminal cartels, foreign gangs, and transnational criminal organizations through a collaborative and comprehensive response to the growing threat to public safety and national security. The HSTF integrates personnel, including law enforcement agents, intelligence analysts, and professional staff, from federal agencies to combat crime in our communities.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the HSI-led Document and Benefit Fraud/Mid-Atlantic El Dorado Task Force, and thanked IRS-CI and EPA-OIG for their work in the investigation. Ms. Hayes praised the Anne Arundel County, Prince George's County, and Montgomery County Police Departments for their assistance. She also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Harry M. Gruber, Bijon A. Mostoufi, and Jared M. Beim, who prosecuted the federal case, and Paralegal Specialist Joanna B.N. Huber for her assistance.

The resolution in MJM-23-304 and today's sentence does not impact the pending charges in United States v. Victor Killen, MJM-25-334, which the United States is continuing to pursue.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office, its priorities, and resources available to report fraud, please visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/report-fraud.