Georgia Residents Sentenced in Multi-Million Dollar Romance Scam

NEW ORLEANS — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)), published as received.

NEW ORLEANS –  On January 28, 2026, U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo sentenced KENNETH G. AKPIEYI, a/k/a “Phillip Anderson,” (“AKPIEYI”) age 45, of Marietta, Georgia, to 25 years in prison, and EMUOBOSAN EMMANUELLA HALL, (“HALL”), age 45, of Atlanta, Georgia, to 8 years in prison, announced United States Attorney David I. Courcelle.  The sentencings of AKPIEYI and HALL stemmed from their participation in a years-long romance scam that victimized more than 30 women across the country. AKPIEYI was convicted after a four-day jury trial in July 2025 for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, mail fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. HALL previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

According to the evidence presented at trial, AKPIEYI played a key role in a conspiratorial scheme where the conspirators represented themselves as romantic partners to their, mostly female, victims. The conspirators often claimed to be generals, philanthropists, or entrepreneurs who lived outside the United States and met their victims on Facebook, Instagram, and similar social media platforms. They began their scheme by gaining the trust of the victims. They then  asked the victims to move their conversations to WhatsApp or another encrypted platform. Thereafter, the conspirators fostered a romantic relationship with their victims, who they then asked to send money for fraudulent reasons, such as charitable causes or   assistance for sick family members

Evidence at trial showed that AKPIEYI received victim funds at his residence in Marietta, using the alias “Phillip Anderson." AKPIEYI also used his company, KGA Autobrokers, LLC, to funnel money to other bank accounts, often using accounts at different banks to obscure the movement of victim money. On one occasion, AKPIEYI deposited two checks totaling $300,000 from the same victim at two different banks in the Marietta area on the same day, even though both checks were written to KGA Autobrokers. Frequently, victim funds landed in foreign bank accounts in countries including China and the United Arab Emirates. Nine women who were victimized by this scheme testified at trial to total losses of over $3 million.

For conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, Judge Milazzo sentenced AKPIEYI to 100 months in prison, and three years of supervised release. For conspiracy to commit money laundering, AKPIEYI was sentenced to 100 months in prison, and three years of supervised release. For his conviction for mail fraud, AKPIEYI was sentenced to 100 months in prison, and three years of supervised release. The Court ordered AKPIEYI to serve each term of imprisonment consecutively, for a total sentence of 300 months in prison, in addition to payment of a $300 mandatory special assessment fee. In total, AKPIEYI was found to be responsible for victim losses in excess of $3.5 million.

HALL pleaded guilty in February 2025. According to court documents, AKPIEYI and HALL were among the organizers of a company, Le Beau Monde LLC, which they used to further their romance scam. HALL would deposit victim funds into accounts held in the name of her company and then transfer those funds to accounts at other financial institutions, including foreign banks. HALL admitted to responsibility for $851,207.00 in losses to victims of this scheme.

For conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, HALL was sentenced to 96 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. For conspiracy to commit money laundering, HALL was sentenced to 96 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. HALL’s terms of imprisonment were ordered to be served concurrently. HALL was found to be responsible for losses to victims in the amount of $851,207.00.

Judge Milazzo ordered AKPIEYI and HALL to pay victim restitution, which would be determined at a hearing within 90 days.