On February 17, 2021, four non-DOJ individuals were arrested following an Indictment in the Southern District of New York and charged with one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to receive stolen money, and receipt of stolen money. According to a previously sealed Indictment, from in or about 2013 through in or about 2020, Faraouk Appiedu, Fred Asante, Celvin Freeman, and Lord Aning were members of a criminal enterprise that defrauded victims of more than $55 million through elaborate fraud schemes, including business email compromises, romance scams, and novel coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic scams. The investigation is being conducted by the OIG’s Washington Field Office and the FBI’s New York Field Office.
Date
Case Action
Indictment/Charge/Arrest