Summary
A Maryland man has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for his role in a large-scale money laundering conspiracy that moved millions of dollars in fraud proceeds through shell companies and bank accounts. The sentence was announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland as part of a broader federal effort targeting fraud and organised financial crimes.
Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced Bright Boateng, 45, of Bladensburg, Maryland, to nine years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. The court also ordered Boateng to pay $1,247,950 in restitution and forfeit $431,750. Boateng had previously pleaded guilty to participating in the money laundering conspiracy on February 6, 2026.
Key Developments
- Boateng admitted involvement in nearly $1.5 million in money laundering activity.
- The conspiracy operated between 2020 and November 2023.
- Fraud proceeds were allegedly moved through shell companies and bank accounts.
- Victims included government agencies, educational institutions, healthcare organizations, and businesses.
- Federal authorities charged 14 individuals in connection with the conspiracy.Zarbailov gets 37-month sentence in U.S. health care fraud money laundering case
How the Conspiracy Operated
According to court documents, the conspiracy began in 2020 and continued until November 2023. Investigators said participants worked together to launder proceeds generated from large-scale wire fraud schemes linked to Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL).
The EIDL program was designed to provide financial assistance to businesses affected by economic hardships. Prosecutors alleged that members of the conspiracy obtained fraud proceeds connected to the program and then carried out financial transactions to hide the source and ownership of the funds.
Authorities said the group created limited liability companies that functioned as shell entities. These companies were allegedly used to open bank accounts and receive fraud proceeds. Once the money entered these accounts, additional transactions were conducted to disguise the origin of the funds.
Court records state that Boateng personally received money from at least seven different EIDLs and used a shell company to obtain illegal proceeds. Prosecutors also alleged that he stole another individual’s identity to open business and personal bank accounts used in the scheme.
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Federal authorities further stated that Boateng used a fraudulent Maryland driver’s license displaying his photograph but containing another person’s identifying information. These accounts and documents were allegedly used to facilitate financial transactions connected to the laundering operation.
Investigators determined that nearly $1.5 million in money laundering activity occurred through Boateng’s direct participation in the conspiracy.
Federal Investigation and Related Sentences
The case was investigated by several federal agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), and the Environmental Protection Agency Office of Inspector General (EPA-OIG).
Officials said the victims of the broader conspiracy included an environmental trust, an urban redevelopment program, a medical center, a transportation and logistics company, a school district, a college, and a county government. Other organizations were also affected by the fraudulent activity.
Court records show that Boateng had an extensive criminal history prior to this case, including more than 20 criminal convictions and over 40 arrests involving offenses such as theft, fraud, drug-related crimes, and violence.
Federal prosecutors previously charged 14 defendants in connection with the money laundering conspiracy. Thirteen defendants have already pleaded guilty. One defendant, Faizou Gnora, 28, formerly of Alexandria, Virginia, remains a fugitive.
Several co-defendants have already received prison sentences. These include Killen, who was sentenced to 63 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $7 million in restitution, and Agbeyome, who received a 72-month sentence along with restitution exceeding $2.9 million. Other defendants, including Ogunsanwo, Parker, Ogisi, Colon, Harris, Herrera, and Ndjouandjouaka, also received federal prison terms and substantial restitution orders.
The prosecution forms part of the Trump Administration’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF). Federal officials said these initiatives focus on investigating and prosecuting fraud, organized financial crimes, and other criminal activities affecting government programs and institutions across the United States.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence alongside representatives from HSI, IRS-CI, and EPA-OIG. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bijon A. Mostoufi, Harry M. Gruber, and Jared M. Beim.