Judge Theodore D. Chuang has sentenced Anomah Ndonwi, a 32-year-old resident of Chillum, Maryland, to 30 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit wire fraud. This announcement was made by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, alongside David Richeson, Special Agent in Charge at the Washington Field Office of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS).
Ndonwi's fraudulent activities began in September 2019 and continued until December 2022. He conspired with others to execute schemes involving non-delivery promises to victims across the United States who responded to online pet sale advertisements featuring animals like dogs and horses.
Victims were led to believe they were purchasing pets through internet websites and paid via wire or electronic-app transfers. However, they never received the pets or refunds after making payments.
Another scheme involved the non-delivery of agricultural goods such as meat products. Victims from foreign countries representing businesses paid for these goods using interstate or international wire communications but did not receive their orders or refunds.
Ndonwi used fraudulent identifications to open U.S. bank accounts that received proceeds from these schemes. He opened at least 14 bank accounts under alias names, primarily in Maryland, using fake passports purportedly from the Republic of Cameroon with his picture but an alias name.
The total amount received through this wire-fraud conspiracy was at least $930,105 affecting ten or more victims.
U.S. Attorney Hayes praised DSS for its investigative work and acknowledged Assistant U.S. Attorneys Coreen Mao and Dawn Williams for prosecuting the case.
For further details about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office and resources available for reporting fraud, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
