A Ghanaian man, Wigbert Bandie, aged 34, was sentenced to 63 months in prison for his role in a multi-million dollar international wire fraud conspiracy. The sentencing was delivered by United States District Judge Thomas A. Varlan in the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville on November 26, 2024. Following his incarceration, Bandie will be subject to three years of supervised release and is required to repay $2.18 million in restitution to 11 victims.
Bandie pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, as outlined in an indictment under 18 U.S.C. ยงยง 1349 and 1343. The court documents revealed that Bandie and his co-conspirators used false identities on social media and dating websites to deceive primarily elderly victims into forming friendships and romantic relationships. Bandie played various roles in exploiting these relationships, persuading the victims to send money via wire transfers, checks, U.S. mail, and package delivery services.
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The fraudsters, often referred to as romance scammers or “handlers,” posed as potential friends or romantic partners, using social media, texts, emails, and phone calls to quickly build relationships with the victims. Once the scammers had gained the victims’ trust, they requested emergency financial assistance or enticed them with fictitious investment opportunities. The victims, spread across the United States, lost amounts ranging from several thousand dollars to several hundred thousand dollars. For instance, one victim from the Eastern District of Tennessee lost more than $280,000 over several months.
The conspiracy also involved individuals referred to as “money mules,” who assisted in transferring the fraudulently obtained funds from the United States to overseas accounts through bank wire transfers or mail.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, led by FBI Special Agent Matthew R. Short. The announcement of Bandie’s sentencing was made by U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge Joe Carrico of the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne H. Sullivan represented the United States in this case.
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Memphis Man Sentenced for Fentanyl and Firearm Crimes
A Memphis man, Myshun Jefferson, has been sentenced to over nine years in federal prison for distributing more than 200 grams of fentanyl and possessing several unlawfully modified firearms, including a machine gun. The investigation, led by Homeland Security Investigations Memphis and the Bartlett Police Department, revealed Jefferson’s involvement in illegal drug distribution across two locations in Memphis. Following controlled purchases and subsequent search warrants, Jefferson was arrested and later pleaded guilty to the charges. His sentencing underscores the serious threats posed by fentanyl distribution and illegal firearm possession.