Brooklyn Park Man Sentenced in Online Romance Fraud Scheme
A Brooklyn Park man has been sentenced to prison for his role in carrying out a nationwide romance fraud scheme that stole more than $2 million from dozens of victims, many of them elderly.
A U.S. District Court judge sentenced Dodzi Kordorwu, 38, to more than five years in prison. Kordorwu had pleaded guilty last December to mail fraud.
According to court documents, the scheme went on for four years, from May 2018 through June 2022, and largely preyed on seniors.
Court documents show Kordorwu used false names and developed deep personal connections before asking his victims to send him money for some problem or need.
“The scheme relied on perpetrators impersonating a real or plausible but fictitious person, such as a senior U.S. diplomat or military official, that contacted the victims through online social media applications,” read a statement from the office of U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger.
In some cases, the scheme would introduce another person to the victim to corroborate the false persona’s story.
Prosecutors said the victims eventually were directed to send large sums of money by mail or other commercial means to a specified name and address.
In total, Kordorwu received more than 90 victim packages containing $2.2 million in fraudulent proceeds throughout the scheme, prosecutors said.
Court documents show Kordorwu kept some of the proceeds and distributed the remainder to other scheme participants.
In addition to prison time, Judge Eric Tostrud ordered Kordorwu to make full restitution of the stolen money. Kordorwu must also remain under court supervision for three years following his release.
Also See: Plymouth Police Warn Seniors About Scams
