NEWARK, N.J. - A Massachusetts man was convicted on September 28, 2026, for his role in a multi-year conspiracy to launder money that was stolen from victims across the United States as a part of a series of internet-enabled romance scams, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer announced.

Manaseh Mintah, 43, of Dracut, Massachusetts, was convicted of one count of money laundering conspiracy, three counts of money laundering, and one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. Mintah was convicted following a two-week trial before U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas in Newark federal court. Sentencing is scheduled for March 16, 2027.

"Cyber-enabled fraud schemes take advantage of vulnerable Americans, especially older Americans, stealing their hard-earned life savings and destroying families' financial security. Transnational criminal networks may think that they can hide behind computer monitors, but our office, alongside our federal partners, will relentlessly track down these bad actors and the people who launder money on behalf of these criminal networks."

- U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer

"Romance-scam network operators believe themselves untouchable, hiding behind keyboards and laundering money through shell companies with impunity," said FBI Newark Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy. "But reality hits hard when they hear a guilty verdict read out loud in a U.S. federal court. The FBI Newark Joint Organized Crime Task Force disrupts transnational groups to protect Americans who are being targeted and prevent them from losing their life savings to these malicious criminals."

"Romance scams prey on the trust of vulnerable individuals and too often shatter their finances and lives. This verdict makes it clear that those who move illicit funds for fraudsters will be held accountable," stated Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan, IRS Criminal Investigation, Newark Field Office. "IRS-CI is dedicated to partnering with fellow law enforcement agencies to expose financial crimes that victimize our citizens."

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial:

Mintah laundered money sent to him directly by victims of internet-enabled romance scams through numerous bank accounts opened in his own name, and also under the name of Dazionking LLC, a shell business entity that he formed to launder money. Mintah would then move these victim proceeds from the Dazionking accounts and his own personal account to coconspirators through wire transfers, cash withdrawals, and other means. As part of this scheme, Mintah received and transferred at least approximately $1.2 million, knowing that the transactions were for the purpose of disguising or hiding the proceeds of criminal activity.

The money laundering conspiracy charge and one of the money laundering charges carry a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Two of the money laundering charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. The operating an unlicensed money transmitting business charge carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison. The money laundering charges each carry a potential fine of up to $500,000 and the operating an unlicensed money transmitting business charge carries a potential fine of up to $250,000.

U.S. Attorney Frazer credited special agents of the FBI Newark Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, New Jersey, and the FBI Cleveland Field Office, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Joshua J. DelManzo in Cleveland, Ohio, with the investigation leading to the conviction. U.S. Attorney Frazer would also like to thank special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation, under the direction of Jennifer Piovesan in Newark, as well as special agents of the HSI Detroit Field Office, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeremy Piercynski in Cleveland, Ohio, for their assistance in the case.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Levin, Chief of the Cybercrime Unit, and Sean Nadel of the Cybercrime Unit in Newark.

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Defense counsels: Michael V. Calabro, Esq. and Georgina Pallitto, Esq.