A Parma man who helped turn fake online romances into real financial losses for older Americans is headed to federal prison after a judge handed down a 63-month sentence. Abdoul Issaka Assimiou was also ordered to repay more than $220,000 to 15 victims, bringing a local name to a sprawling international elder-fraud case.
Assimiou, 38, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, according to the Justice Department. U.S. District Judge John R. Adams sentenced him on July 14 to 63 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
The case centered on an online romance scheme that operated from December 2017 through March 2024. Court records say conspirators used dating websites and social media to create fake personas, build close relationships with victims and then solicit wire transfers using stories that included supposed gold inheritances, as detailed by Cleveland.com.
Money Was Routed Through Parma And Onto Ghana
Prosecutors said victims sent money to accounts controlled by Assimiou and other members of the conspiracy. He retained portions of the proceeds and used some of the money to buy products that were shipped to co-conspirators in Ghana, according to federal authorities.
The sentence includes $220,485 in restitution for the 15 victims identified in the case. The FBI Cleveland Division investigated, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. McDonough prosecuted the case, the Justice Department said.
Fraud Losses Are Rising Across The Country
The Parma case lands as older Americans report increasingly steep losses to online fraud. The FBI says people over 60 filed more than 201,000 complaints in 2025 and reported losses topping $7.7 billion, a 37% increase in complaints and a 59% jump in losses from the previous year, according to FBI data.
Romance scams are built around trust rather than a single suspicious transaction, which can make them especially painful for victims and difficult for families to spot early. The U.S. Department of Justice warns that scammers may pose as romantic partners online, claim they cannot meet in person and ask for money tied to emergencies, travel, business deals or investments.
Parma Officials Are Pushing Scam Awareness
Parma police have partnered with the Parma Senior Center, Mt. Alverna, Vista Springs Senior Living and the Cuyahoga County Consumer Affairs Department’s Scam Squad to provide fraud-awareness presentations, according to Cleveland.com. Parma Safety Director Bob Coury applauded the arrest and sentence, which officials say should serve as a warning that online manipulation can quickly become an interstate financial crime.
Anyone who suspects elder financial fraud can report it to the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311. The Justice Department also advises older adults and families not to send money to someone they have only met online, even when the relationship feels personal or urgent.
