CLEVELAND — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)), published as received.
CLEVELAND – A Cuyahoga County man was sentenced to prison for his role in romance fraud schemes that targeted the elderly throughout Northern Ohio and elsewhere.
Abdoul Issaka Assimiou, 38, of Parma, Ohio, was sentenced to 63 months (5.25 years) in prison by U.S. District Judge John R. Adams after pleading guilty in October 2025 to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Money Laundering. Assimiou was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $220,485 in restitution to 15 victims.
According to court records, from December 2017 to March 2024, an international elder fraud and money laundering conspiracy targeted older Americans in the Northern District of Ohio and across the United States. Conspirators used dating websites and social media platforms to interact with victims, creating fake personas to establish close, often romantic, relationships. Victims, misled by false stories such as claims of gold inheritances, sent money via wire transfer to accounts controlled by Assimiou and others. For over three years, Assimiou retained portions of these stolen funds and purchased products to ship to co-conspirators in Ghana.
The FBI Cleveland Division investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney Brian M. McDonough, prosecuted the case.
This investigation and prosecution are in response to the Elder Justice Initiative Program originating from the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act of 2017 (EAPPA). The mission of the EAPPA and Elder Justice Initiative is to support and coordinate the Department of Justice’s enforcement efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect, financial fraud, and scams that target the nation’s elderly population.
To report suspected elder financial abuse, visit: tips.fbi.gov/home or justice.gov/elderjustice/financial-exploitation.
On April 7, 2026, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division. The Fraud Division is investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.
