US-Based Ghanaian Pleads Guilty To US$35million ‘Sakawa’ Heist

A Ghanaian based in the US, Fred Asante, has reportedly pleaded uilty to money laundering to the tune of US$35million.

Mr. Asante, who is based Fredericksburg in Virginia pleaded guilty to one count of the crime which carries a maximum potential sentence of 20 years imprisonment.

Under the terms of a plea agreement, the 36-year-old reportedly agreed to pay money judgment of $647,488 and to forfeit his interest in approximately $323,646 seized by the American government from his bank accounts.

He also agreed to forfeit a 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE AMG seized by the government.

Fred Asante will be sentenced on May 18, 2022, the US Department of Justice said.

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced Mr. Asante’s guilty plea to conspiracy to commit money laundering for his role in a criminal enterprise based in Ghana involving the theft of tens of millions of dollars.

Together with conspirators, Mr. Asante scammed people through online dating.

His co-conspirator, Lord Anning, also a Ghanaian, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud on October 15, 2021, and will be sentenced on February 28, 2022, according to reports.

Mr. Asante was arrested on February 17, 2021, in Virginia and pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff. He has been detained since his arrest.

“Fred Asante admitted today to laundering money from victims of various fraud schemes, including cruel scams targeting elderly online daters searching for companionship Compounding the disappointment of learning their potential soul mate was indeed nonexistent, Mr. Asante’s victims later found they were also targets of a Ghana-based criminal enterprise netting over $35 million in illegal proceeds,” Attorney Williams stated.

“We implore the millions of Americans looking for someone special online to use extra caution, and be especially beware if solicited for money or other personal information.”