Man Sentenced to 39 Months in Prison for Role in Tax and Bank Fraud Conspiracies

WILMINGTON, Del. - Charles M. Oberly, III, United States Attorney for the District of Delaware, announced that Victor Kwabenda Adofo Asante, a.k.a.Victor Asante, age 25, formerly of Newark, Delaware, was sentenced today by the Honorable Leonard P. Stark, United States District Judge for the District of Delaware, to 39 months imprisonment and full restitution in the amount of $259,342.00.  The defendant pleaded guilty to False Claims and Bank Fraud Conspiracy in June 2015. 

According to court filings and statements at the sentencing hearing, the defendant and others used stolen identities to file fraudulent federal income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service.  The defendant obtained some of the stolen identities by convincing an associate to steal personal information from patients of her employer, a neuro-rehabilitation center.  The defendant also participated in bank fraud activities.  He and others compromised, and stole money from, unsuspecting victims’ credit card, annuity, and other financial accounts. 

The defendant concealed his involvement in the fraudulent activity by, among other things, receiving fraud proceeds into bank accounts he opened or controlled in other people’s names, withdrawing the proceeds in cash, transferring the funds to other bank accounts, and exchanging the funds with others through money orders and checks.

Two of the defendant’s separately charged co-conspirators were previously sentenced by the court.  In February 2015, James Ekeke, age 26, of Smyrna, Georgia, pleaded guilty to false claims conspiracy and access device fraud.  Ekeke was sentenced in June 2015 to serve 54 months in prison.  In May 2015, Festus Frimpong, age 20, of Newark, Delaware, pleaded guilty to false claims conspiracy and access device fraud.  Frimpong was sentenced in October 2014, to serve 46 months imprisonment. 

An additional co-conspirator, Natasha Pollard, awaits sentencing.  She pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting receipt of stolen government property, and bank fraud conspiracy, in October 2015.

A fourth co-conspirator, Amaserwaah Asante, awaits trial on March 28, 2016.  She was charged by a Superseding Indictment dated March 12, 2015, with false claims conspiracy, money laundering, and bank fraud conspiracy.

U.S. Attorney Oberly gave the following comments: “Frauds like this have become all too common and are costing the government huge sums of money. My office is committed to prosecuting those engaged in this kind of criminal behavior and to seeking substantial periods of imprisonment to serve as a deterrent to others who might want to attempt to commit the same or similar frauds. I personally want to thank the federal agencies, investigators and Assistant United States Attorney who worked diligently to bring Mr. Asante and his co-defendants to justice.”

“Defendant Victor Ofosu-Asante demonstrated a blatant disregard of the integrity of the United States tax system. Rest assured that IRS Criminal Investigation, along with our law enforcement partners, and the U.S. Attorney's Office, will hold those who engage in similar behavior fully accountable." said Akeia Conner, Special Agent in Charge.

These cases are the result of an ongoing investigation conducted by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General.