Fort Bragg soldier charged in romance, unemployment scams

An active-duty U.S. Army soldier stationed at Fort Bragg stands accused of operating a multi-state unemployment insurance scheme and an online romance con that targeted vulnerable, often elderly people.

Spc. Sanda Frimpong, 33, was arrested Wednesday by U.S Marshals on 19 federal charges including money laundering, fraud, conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, and access device fraud in connection with multiple interstate and international fraud and money-laundering scams, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. All of the charges took place while Frimpong was stationed at Fort Bragg, the court record states.

More:Ex Fort Bragg soldier sent to federal prison for scam marriage

Romance scheme

According to the federal indictment, Frimpong and others used a variety of fraudulent scenarios and assumed identities to defraud victims through promises of romance or riches.

"Having established relationships with the victims, the conspirators ultimately requested money for various untrue purposes, including travel expenses and customs fees for gold," the indictment said. "It was further part of the conspiracy that Frimpong maintained numerous bank accounts and mobile payment services" to effect the scheme.

Frimpong is accused of then depositing the money into one of his many bank accounts or sending it to family and others in Ghana, the indictment states.

Among the victims was a widower from New York and a recent divorcee from Illinois, the indictment states.

According to the indictment, Frimpong a native of the West African country of Ghana, first entered the U.S. on a fiance's visa. and got married. He then divorced in 2018 and became a naturalized citizen that same year, the indictment said.

Unemployment insurance fraud

In addition to the romance scam, according to the indictment, Frimpong and others known and unknown to federal prosecutors are accused of using the stolen identities of people living and deceased and fraudulently applying for unemployment assistance in various states.

"This fraud included allegedly obtaining over $100,000 in funds intended for those struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic and made available via the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act," the release said.

The unemployment fraud was perpetrated in California, Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New Mexico, North Carolina, Texas, and other states, the indictment says.

On Friday, Frimpong was being held in the Wake County jail on the federal charges, jail records show.

If convicted, he faces between 10 and up to 20 years in prison per count, the release said.

F.T. Norton can be reached at [email protected].