A Maryland man has been sentenced to federal prison for his involvement in a sophisticated money laundering conspiracy that funneled millions of dollars derived from wire fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. Bright Boateng, 45, of Bladensburg, was ordered by Judge Matthew J. Maddox to serve nine years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. He was also mandated to pay $1,247,950 in restitution and forfeit $431,750 as part of his sentence. Boateng had previously pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy on February 6, 2026, admitting that he directly participated in laundering nearly $1.5 million.
The prosecution, announced by U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes, along with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Akil Baldwin, IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Special Agent in Charge Kareem A. Carter, and Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General (EPA-OIG) Acting Special Agent in Charge George Golliday, is part of broader federal efforts to combat fraud. Specifically, this case is linked to the Trump Administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF). The conspiracy, which ran from 2020 until November 2023, involved Boateng and multiple other individuals who worked to obscure the origins and flow of funds obtained through extensive wire fraud schemes, particularly those related to Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL).
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The fraudulent activities targeted a diverse range of entities, including government agencies, non-profit organizations, and various businesses such as an environmental trust, an urban redevelopment program, a medical center, a transportation and logistics company, a school district, a college, and a county government. To facilitate the money laundering, Boateng and his associates established limited liability companies to act as shell corporations. These entities were used to open bank accounts, through which the illicit proceeds were then channeled and laundered.
Court documents reveal that Boateng was directly involved in receiving funds from at least seven different EIDLs, using a shell entity to handle the illegal proceeds. In a further effort to conceal his actions, Boateng employed identity theft, using another individual’s information to open both business and personal bank accounts. These accounts were critical in receiving the fraudulent funds and conducting further financial transactions. Boateng also utilized a fake Maryland driver’s license, which featured his photograph but contained the personal details of another person. His criminal history, documented in court records, shows an extensive pattern of alleged offenses, with over 20 prior convictions and more than 40 arrests for conduct encompassing theft, fraud, drug-related offenses, and violent crimes.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland has brought charges against 14 defendants in connection with this money laundering conspiracy, with 13 having already entered guilty pleas. One defendant, Faizou Gnora, 28, formerly of Alexandria, Virginia, is still considered a fugitive. Several other defendants have previously received federal prison sentences and been ordered to pay substantial restitution and forfeitures. These include Killen, sentenced to 63 months; Agbeyome, to 72 months; Ogunsanwo, to 40 months; Parker, to 36 months; Ogisi, to 33 months; Colon, to 27 months; Harris, to 24 months; Herrera, to 24 months; and Ndjouandjouaka, also to 24 months. The restitution amounts ordered for these individuals range from over $700,000 to more than $11 million.
The Department of Justice recently announced the establishment of the National Fraud Enforcement Division, a specialized unit dedicated to investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American public. This initiative aligns with broader governmental efforts to combat fraud, waste, and abuse within federal benefit programs. The HSTF, established by Executive Order, is a multi-agency task force focused on dismantling criminal organizations, including cartels and foreign gangs, that operate within the United States and abroad, often contributing to violence and instability. The HSTF particularly emphasizes investigations into child trafficking and other crimes involving children, as well as the prosecution and removal of violent criminal aliens. The HSTF Baltimore initiative involves numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. U.S. Attorney Hayes acknowledged the collaborative efforts of the HSI-led Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force, IRS-CI, EPA-OIG, and local police departments in Anne Arundel County, Prince George’s County, and Montgomery County for their crucial assistance in this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bijon A. Mostoufi, Harry M. Gruber, and Jared M. Beim, along with Paralegal Specialist Joanna B.N. Huber, were recognized for their prosecution of the federal case.
Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland.
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