Jury Convicts Massachusetts Man of Laundering $1.2 Million Stolen in Online Romance Scams

Published Oct. 8, 2026. Case statuses are current as of that date.

Romance scammers who work from overseas still need someone in the United States to receive victims' money and move it on. Federal prosecutors in New Jersey say a Massachusetts man filled that role, and a jury agreed.

On Sept. 28, 2026, after a two-week trial in Newark, a federal jury convicted Manaseh Mintah, 43, of Dracut, Massachusetts, of one count of money laundering conspiracy, three counts of money laundering, and one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey announced on Oct. 2 [1].

"Cyber-enabled fraud schemes take advantage of vulnerable Americans, especially older Americans, stealing their hard-earned life savings and destroying families' financial security," said U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer [1].

Mintah has been convicted by a jury but not yet sentenced. A conviction can be challenged through post-trial motions and appeal.

How the scheme worked

Prosecutors described a multi-year conspiracy to launder money stolen "from victims across the United States as a part of a series of internet-enabled romance scams" [1]. According to court documents and trial evidence summarized in the release:

1. Victims sent money directly to him. People caught up in online romance scams sent money to Mintah.
2. Many accounts. He received it through numerous bank accounts opened in his own name and in the name of Dazionking LLC, a shell business he formed to launder money.
3. Passing it on. He then moved the money from the Dazionking accounts and his personal account to co-conspirators through wire transfers, cash withdrawals and other means.
4. The total. Mintah received and transferred at least about $1.2 million, knowing the transactions were meant to disguise or hide criminal proceeds, prosecutors said.

The release does not name the people who posed as romantic partners or say where they were located. The case was investigated by the FBI's Newark and Cleveland field offices, with help from IRS Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations [1].

"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." [1]

Why the "middleman" matters

Romance scams usually involve a fake persona who builds an emotional connection online and then asks for money for an emergency, a trip, or an investment. The FTC notes scammers want payment "in a way that makes it hard for you to get it back," such as wire transfers, gift cards, payment apps or cryptocurrency [2]. When a victim is told to wire money to a U.S. person or a company with a business-sounding name, that account often belongs to someone like the launderer described in this case, which can make the request look more legitimate than it is.

The person convicted

Manaseh Mintah, 43, of Dracut, Massachusetts, was convicted before U.S. District Judge Esther Salas. The money laundering conspiracy count and one money laundering count carry up to 20 years in prison; two money laundering counts carry up to 10 years; and the unlicensed money transmitting count carries up to five years. Sentencing is scheduled for March 16, 2027. He was represented by Michael V. Calabro and Georgina Pallitto [1].

Dazionking LLC, the business entity Mintah formed, is described by prosecutors as a shell used to launder money; the release does not indicate it was separately charged [1].

Red flags

• An online partner you've never met asks you to send money, especially to someone else's name or a company account.
• Instructions to wire money to a U.S. business that has nothing to do with the reason you were given.
• The account or recipient keeps changing. Multiple accounts are a sign money is being moved to avoid scrutiny.
• Requests to receive and forward money for your partner. Agreeing can turn a victim into an unwitting money mule.
• Secrecy and urgency: you're told not to tell family or your bank.

What to do if you're targeted

1. Follow the FTC's rule: "Never send money or gifts to a sweetheart you haven't met in person" [2].
2. Do a reverse image search of the person's profile photos and search their story online with the word "scammer" [2].
3. If you've already sent money, call your bank or the payment company right away, tell them you paid a scammer and ask them to reverse the transfer [2].
4. Never accept and forward money for someone you met online.
5. Report it to the FBI at ic3.gov and the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. People 60 and older who need help filing can call the DOJ Elder Justice Hotline at 1-833-372-8311 [3].

Case status (as of Oct. 8, 2026)

Defendant	Court	Status as of Oct. 8, 2026	Source
Manaseh Mintah, 43, Dracut, MA	Federal, D.N.J. (Newark)	Convicted by jury Sept. 28, 2026 (money laundering conspiracy, 3 counts money laundering, unlicensed money transmitting business); sentencing March 16, 2027	[1]
Dazionking LLC	—	Described by prosecutors as Mintah's shell company; no separate charges reported	[1]

Statuses can change, including through post-trial motions or appeal.

Sources

1. U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Jersey, "Massachusetts Man Convicted of Laundering $1.2M from Internet-Enabled Romance Scams," press release, Oct. 2, 2026. https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/massachusetts-man-convicted-laundering-12m-internet-enabled-romance-scams
2. Federal Trade Commission, "What To Know About Romance Scams," consumer advice, August 2022. https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-know-about-romance-scams
3. FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, "Scammers Use Couriers to Collect Cash in Cryptocurrency Investment Scams," Alert I-061526-PSA, June 15, 2026. https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2026/PSA260615

---

Corrections and updates: If you are named in this article, or represent someone who is, and believe anything here is inaccurate or out of date (including a dismissal, acquittal, or change in case status), please contact us at editorandchief@scammers.com. We will review it and update the article promptly.