<\/p>\n
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The son of former Tamale Central MP, Inusah Fuseini, has been convicted by a United States court of fraud and money laundering.<\/p>\n
Evidence at trial revealed that Abdul Inusah, 31, was part of a conspiracy that targeted victims using false personas via email, text messaging, and online dating and social media websites.<\/p>\n
The acts span \u201cfrom at least January 2018 through at least December 2019,\u201d per the report.<\/p>\n
Some of them involve \u201chis role in a Huntington-based scheme that defrauded individuals in multiple states through the use of false online personas.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe amount included $48,000 to pay overdue taxes on a non-existent gold inheritance in Ghana and $21,000 wired to Bitsav Supply LLC, a shell set up by Inusah. Another false persona, \u201cGrace,\u201d persuaded a Washington resident to wire funds so \u201cGrace\u201d could maintain her South African cocoa plantation and move to the United States to marry the victim. <\/p>\n
\u201cOther victims of the false personas included residents of Ohio and Florida,\u201c the Department of Justice said.<\/p>\n
In the statement published on the DOJ\u2019s website, the jury is said to have found the former MP\u2019s son \u201cguilty of receipt of stolen money, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and two counts of wire fraud.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe wire fraud counts involve a pair of $2,000 Zelle wire transfers to Inusah from the money obtained using the \u201cMiarama\u201d false persona in January 2019.<\/p>\n
According to the US Department, Mr Inusah is expected to be sentenced on November 21, 2022.<\/p>\n
Abdul faces a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison.<\/p>\n
Below is the statement<\/p>\n
Federal Jury finds man guilty in fraud and money laundering scheme<\/strong><\/p>\n After three days of trial, a federal jury convicted Abdul Inusah, 31, of Ghana, for his role in a Huntington-based scheme that defrauded individuals in multiple states through the use of false online personas.<\/p>\n Evidence at trial revealed that Inusah was part of a conspiracy that targeted victims using false personas via email, text messaging, and online dating and social media websites. From at least January 2018 through at least December 2019, the scheme sought to induce victims into believing they were in a romantic relationship, friendship, or business relationship with various false personas. The victims were persuaded to send money for a variety of false and fraudulent reasons for the benefit of the false personas.<\/p>\n One false persona, \u201cMiarama,\u201d was used to induce an Alabama resident into providing $106,000 via wire transfers and cashier\u2019s checks. The amount included $48,000 to pay overdue taxes on a nonexistent gold inheritance in Ghana and $21,000 wired to Bitsav Supply LLC, a shell set up by Inusah. Another false persona, \u201cGrace,\u201d persuaded a Washington resident to wire funds so \u201cGrace\u201d could maintain her South African cocoa plantation and move to the United States to marry the victim. Other victims of the false personas included residents of Ohio and Florida.<\/p>\n The jury found Inusah guilty of receipt of stolen money, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and two counts of wire fraud. The wire fraud counts involve a pair of $2,000 Zelle wire transfers to Inusah from the money obtained using the \u201cMiarama\u201d false persona in January 2019.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is truly heartbreaking how this conspiracy exploited individuals who were particularly vulnerable, such as following the death of a longtime spouse,\u201d said the United States Attorney Will Thompson. \u201cSome of the victims did not recognize themselves as victims and continued to believe these false personas were real and that they were in actual relationships. <\/p>\n \u201cI commend the investigative work of the United States Secret Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG), the West Virginia State Police and the South Charleston Police Department. I also commend Assistant United States Attorneys Kathleen Robeson and R. Gregory McVey and our trial team for trying this complex fraud case before the jury.\u201d<\/p>\n United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the jury trial. Inusah is scheduled to be sentenced on November 21, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison.<\/p>\n The public is encouraged to report potential online fraud activity or scams at\u00a0https:\/\/www.ic3.gov\/.<\/p>\n If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311).\u00a0 This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalised support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps.\u00a0 <\/p>\n Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis.\u00a0 <\/p>\n Reporting is the first step.\u00a0 Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses.\u00a0 The hotline is staffed 10 am \u2013 6 pm Eastern Time, Monday-Friday. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.\u00a0<\/p>\n A copy of this press release is located on the website of the\u00a0U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office\u00a0for the Southern District of West Virginia.\u00a0Related court documents and information can be found on\u00a0PACER\u00a0by searching for Case No.\u00a03:21-cr-70.<\/p>\n <\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The son of former Tamale Central MP, Inusah Fuseini, has been convicted by a United States court of fraud and money laundering. Evidence at trial revealed that Abdul Inusah, 31, was part of a conspiracy that targeted victims using false personas via email, text messaging, and online dating and social media websites. 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