On Tuesday, March 10, 2026, a federal judge sentenced Cincinnati resident Richard Opoku Agyemang to 41 months in prison after prosecutors said he laundered proceeds from an online dating scheme that pulled more than $2 million from dozens of victims. The court also ordered him to repay nearly $1.4 million, money investigators say many victims scraped together by draining savings and selling off assets. Agyemang, now 41, had pleaded guilty last year to laundering fraud proceeds.
Victims and court filings describe a long-running playbook of fake female personas and never-ending pleas for cash that left some people financially wrecked, according to reporting by The Cincinnati Enquirer. Prosecutors told the court that in 2023 Agyemang received more than $400,000 while operating as “Kathy,” and just under $350,000 in 2022 while posing as “Emily,” two examples they said showed how much money was flowing through the scam.
How Investigators Say The Scam Worked
According to local prosecutors, Agyemang’s coconspirators allegedly lifted photos and invented backstories to build convincing online dating profiles. After gaining victims’ trust, the profiles shifted from flirting to emergencies, with stories of urgent bills or travel that supposedly required quick cash. Victims were told to wire money or deposit checks into accounts controlled by Agyemang. More than $2 million moved through those accounts, according to WCPO, turning romance into a very real bank problem for dozens of people.
Indictment And Related Fraud Claims
Federal court records show a grand jury indicted Agyemang in April 2024 on 11 counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, several money laundering counts and making false statements to the Small Business Administration in a Paycheck Protection Program loan application. Prosecutors say Risun LLC functioned as a shell company and that PPP documents misrepresented the firm’s income, allegations laid out in the indictment and related court orders. Court documents outline the charges and the government’s description of the laundering operation.
Sentence, Restitution And Next Steps
At sentencing, the judge imposed the 41-month prison term and ordered nearly $1.4 million in restitution, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer. Prosecutors told the court they plan to keep chasing any remaining funds tied to the scheme in hopes of getting more money back to victims. Under his plea agreement, Agyemang had faced a recommended sentence of up to 41 months, and in September 2025 he admitted to a single money laundering count tied to a 2022 transfer.
Authorities Urge Reporting And Vigilance
The U.S. Attorney’s Office described the investigation and plea agreement in a press release that lists more than $2 million in reported losses and tracks how money moved through the conspiracy. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and law enforcement partners say anyone who suspects they were targeted should file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center and submit a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. They also urge potential victims to contact their bank and local police right away so investigators have a better shot at tracing and freezing fraudulent transfers before the money disappears for good.
