Cincinnati man sentenced to prison for laundering proceeds of romance fraud conspiracy that scammed dozens of victims out of more than $2 million

CINCINNATI - Richard Opoku Agyemang, 41, of Cincinnati, was sentenced in U.S. District Court today to 41 months in prison for laundering the proceeds of a romance fraud conspiracy involving more than $2 million in losses to dozens of victims.

For years, Agyemang laundered millions of dollars in fraud proceeds to others in the United States and abroad and kept a substantial sum for himself.

The targets of the conspiracy were elderly or recently bereaved people who were looking for love on dating websites. As part of the romance fraud scheme, other individuals used stolen photographs and false information to create profiles on dating websites and establish online romantic relationships with victims. Victims were tricked into sending money under the false pretense that doing so would support a romantic partner for things like medical expenses.

Victims in this case detailed having to sell their homes and vehicles, cash in life insurance policies and 401k accounts, and max out credit cards because of their financial losses from the scam.

Many perpetrators were individuals living in Ghana. Because Agyemang lived in the United States, he was able to open American bank accounts to receive the fraud proceeds, which he then laundered to other accounts in the United States and in foreign countries.

According to court documents, victims sent more than $2 million by either wiring money or depositing checks to accounts controlled by Agyemang.

Separately from his money laundering, Agyemang also defrauded the Small Business Administration during the COVID-19 pandemic by fraudulently obtaining a Paycheck Protection Program loan requesting pandemic relief funds. He ultimately received a loan for nearly $21,000 that was later forgiven.

The defendant was charged federally in April 2024 and pleaded guilty in September 2025. As part of his sentence, the Court has ordered him to pay nearly $1.4 million in restitution to the individual victims who could be identified and approximately $20,800 in restitution to the Small Business Administration.

Dominick S. Gerace II, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Lesley Allison, Inspector in Charge, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Pittsburgh Division, announced the sentence imposed today by U.S. District Judge Matthew W. McFarland. Assistant United States Attorneys Julie D. Garcia and Ebunoluwa A. Taiwo are representing the United States in this case.

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