DES MOINES, Iowa — A 43-year-old Ghanaian national living in Odenton, Maryland, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for laundering more than $1.6 million stolen from victims of a nationwide romance scam that left some drained of their retirement savings and forced to sell their homes.
Nana Takyiwa Adonu used a company she operated, Han-Dak LLC, to receive money from victims who believed they were sending funds to romantic partners they had met on internet dating sites and social media platforms, according to court documents filed in the Southern District of Iowa. Among the victims was an Iowa resident who sent more than $55,000.
“Romance scammers exploit victims when they are at their most vulnerable,” said Eugene Kowel, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Omaha Field Office. “They prey on innocent people by convincing them a relationship is real, then slowly abuse that trust to steal their life savings. Some victims lost their entire retirement accounts.”
U.S. District Judge ordered Adonu to pay $1,655,640.76 in restitution in addition to the prison term. She will serve three years of supervised release after completing her sentence. U.S. Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa announced the sentencing, which took place on July 22.
Victims across the country drained retirement accounts, sold homes and vehicles, returned to work after retirement, and borrowed substantial sums from friends and family, prosecutors said. When the FBI confronted Adonu, she claimed Han-Dak LLC was a legitimate garment production company producing clothing in China. She then produced false invoices, fabricated customer and vendor lists, and other fraudulent documentation in response to a federal grand jury subpoena in an attempt to obstruct the investigation.
Kowel called the case “an egregious example of the ruthless persistence exhibited by scammers who enrich themselves at the expense of vulnerable people. The FBI will continue using every tool at our disposal to apprehend these criminals and bring them to justice.”
Adonu’s co-defendant, Naabanyin Aniagyei-Cobbold, received a heavier sentence in March — 108 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and $1,554,442.46 in restitution. The FBI’s Omaha Cyber Task Force and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Lubben handling the prosecution.
The scale of the scheme reflects a broader national pattern. According to FBI data, approximately 59,000 people fell victim to romance-related scams in 2024, losing more than $672 million. The bureau noted that many victims, once they realize they have been exploited, feel embarrassed or ashamed and do not report the crime to law enforcement.
In a separate federal case out of New Hampshire, Zaire Braddock, 21, of New York, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release for an armed robbery in Londonderry. According to court documents, Braddock and four co-conspirators traveled from New York to Londonderry to rob a local business, where Braddock threatened the victim with a box cutter while the crew restrained the victim and stole merchandise. A sixth co-conspirator drove the getaway truck.
“This individual traveled from New York to Londonderry to terrorize others with violence and threats,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan. “This sentence shows that actions have consequences, and we will continue to coordinate with our federal and state law enforcement partners to quickly and decisively investigate and prosecute violent crimes and hold lawbreakers accountable.”
Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division, said Braddock was “a clear threat to our community” and that “the FBI and our partners will continue to work in lockstep to crush violent crime in our neighborhoods and bring the perpetrators to justice.” U.S. District Court Judge Steven J. McAuliffe imposed the sentence. The FBI led the investigation with assistance from the Londonderry Police Department, New Hampshire State Police, Massachusetts State Police, and the New York Police Department.
In Mississippi, Patrick Montrell Harris, 34, of Natchez, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for possession of a stolen firearm. According to court documents, Harris stole a pistol from the property room of the Centreville Police Department while he was an officer with the department and later sold it to a pawn shop. U.S. Attorney J.E. Baxter Kruger of the Southern District of Mississippi and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Denham of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced the case.
The FBI encourages anyone who suspects an online relationship is a scam to stop all contact immediately and report the fraud to a local FBI field office at 1-800-225-5324 or through the bureau’s website.