Abdul Inusah, the son of the former MP for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini, charged in the US for alleged fraud and money laundering, is optimistic he will soon be freed.
A statement issued by the United States Department of Justice, said Inusah, will be sentenced on November 21, 2022 and faces a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison, for the young man described as highly intelligent and friendly by people who know him in Tamale in the Northern Regional capital.
Latest information indicates that, a female native of Tamale based in the USA, has also been arrested by security agencies over the same matter.
The suspect, identified as Mariama, would soon be arraigned before court for alleged fraud and money laundering involving Abdul Inusah, son of former Minister of Roads and Highways.
But speaking on Accra-based Asaase radio, the 31-year-old, claimed he is innocent of all the charges leveled against him, and expressed worry about what he says is the half-truth bought into the Ghanaian public in his case.
According to him, “My utmost worry right now is not fighting my case or proving my innocence to the Ghanaian public.
“My very utmost problem right now will be my family and friends who have been affected by these half-truth publications, with utmost respect because I don’t want to discredit anybody’s work.”
“But these are half-truths, and people’s lives in Ghana are being affected, especially my family and love ones, and I would like to apologise to them that they should take heart, and keep having faith that their brother and son is innocent and will soon be a free man and we will rejoice and jubilate with the people of Ghana,” an optimistic Inusah said.
The son of the former MP, has been convicted by a United States court of fraud and money laundering.
Per evidence at trial, 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.
Some of them involve “his role in a Huntington-based scheme that defrauded individuals in multiple states through the use of false online personas.”
“The 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 company set up by Inusah.
Another false persona, “Grace,” persuaded a Washington resident to wire funds so “Grace” 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,“ the Department of Justice said.
In the statement published on the DOJ’s website, the jury is said to have found the former MP’s son “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 “Miarama” false persona in January 2019.
Abdul, who was tried in a Southern District of West Virginia of the United States of America, faces a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison and is expected to be sentenced on November 21, 2022.
“Miarama” faces several charges, including conspiracy to commit money laundering, and two counts of wire fraud, our sources reveal.
Earlier, the former Ghanaian lawmaker, Inusah Fuseini, has said that it was a case of conspiracy, saying his son’s documents were used to perpetrate a crime, resulting in the charges.
“As a father, my son told me that one of his colleague students wanted a car and he has documents that allows him to auction vehicles, and it turns out the colleague student was involved in a romance fraud,” the former MP said.
He said he is “terribly disappointed” about the development.
The former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, reacted to reports that his son, Abdul Inusah, has been found guilty of money laundering and wire fraud.
The former MP, described the development as terrible, while seeking to explain the details of what led to the incident.
Inusah Fuseini, explained that his son’s documents were used by his colleague who had requested same for a transaction, but unfortunately it turned out he used it for romance fraud.
From at least January 2018 through to 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.”
One instance was when one false persona, “Mariama,” was used to induce an Alabama resident into providing $106,000 via wire transfers and cashier’s checks.
The jury found Inusah guilty of receipt of stolen money, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and two counts of wire fraud.
United States Attorney, Will Thompson, described the activities as heart-breaking, as vulnerable individuals were targeted.
The United States District Judge, Robert C. Chambers presided over the Jury.
Abdul Inusah, has been scheduled to be sentenced on November 21, 2022 and will face a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison.
Below is the full statement from the US Department of Justice:
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.
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 the 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.
One false persona, “Miarama,” was used to induce an Alabama resident into providing $106,000 via wire transfers and cashier’s checks. The 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 company set up by Inusah. Another false persona,
“Grace,” persuaded a Washington resident to wire funds so “Grace” 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.
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 US$2,000 Zelle wire transfers to Inusah from the money obtained using the “Miarama” false persona in January 2019.
“It is truly heartbreaking how this conspiracy exploited individuals who were particularly vulnerable, such as following the death of a longtime spouse,” said United States Attorney Will Thompson. “Some 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. I 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.”
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.
The public is encouraged to report potential online fraud activity or scams at https://www.ic3.gov/.
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). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim, and identifying relevant next steps. 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. Reporting is the first step. 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. The hotline is staffed 10am-6pm Eastern Time, Monday-Friday. English, Spanish, and other languages are available.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:21-cr-70.
