Federal court sentences Ghanaian national for role in romance scam that defrauded victim of more than one million dollars
Alexandria, Virginia – A Ghanaian national has been sentenced to prison after authorities uncovered a large-scale romance scam that persuaded a victim to send more than a million dollars through fraudulent wire transfers. Federal officials announced that Emmanuel Gyasi, 29, received a two-year prison sentence for his role in the conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
According to court records, Gyasi worked with several co-conspirators in a scheme that ran from no later than March 2022 until at least July 2022. The group used deception and fake online identities to manipulate a victim into believing they were helping a romantic partner unlock a fortune tied to valuable gold bars.
The case revealed how scammers used emotional manipulation and fabricated stories to gain the victim’s trust and ultimately convince them to send large amounts of money.
Online Romance Scam Leads to Major Financial Loss
Investigators say the fraud operation began when the conspirators created a fake online dating profile using the name “Jessica Morris.” Through that profile, the group contacted the victim and gradually built what appeared to be a genuine romantic relationship.
After establishing communication and trust, the scammers began telling the victim an elaborate story. The conspirators claimed that Morris had inherited gold bars supposedly valued at $12 million. However, they said the gold could not be sold unless several costly fees were paid first.
As part of the deception, the group introduced another fictional identity into the story. The victim was told that a man named “Steven Baggett” was Morris’ lawyer and would assist with handling the financial transactions needed to sell the gold.
The conspirators promised that if the victim would send money to help pay the various fees tied to the sale of the gold bars, Morris would repay the funds with interest once the sale was completed.
Believing the claims were legitimate, the victim began sending money through wire transfers. Authorities say Gyasi played a key role in the operation by opening and controlling a bank account where the victim’s money was directed.
Over time, the victim transferred approximately $1.1 million as part of the scheme. Although the victim was able to recover a portion of the funds, investigators determined that Gyasi and his co-conspirators still received more than $750,000.
Federal authorities say the case highlights the growing danger of online romance scams, which often rely on emotional manipulation and false promises to convince victims to send large sums of money.
The investigation was carried out by the FBI Washington Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Harvey handled the prosecution of the case in federal court. Officials say cases like this serve as a reminder for individuals to remain cautious when communicating with people they meet online, especially when financial requests are involved.
