Maryland Woman Sentenced for Laundering Money in Nationwide Romance Scam

A Maryland woman has been sentenced to more than five years in prison for laundering funds from a large-scale romance scam that touched victims across several US states.

Han-Dak LLC. On paper, a company like any other. In practice, a quiet gear inside a much larger machine: a romance scam operating across multiple US states, in which 43-year-old Nana Takyiwa Adonu played a specific role — moving the money once it had already been squeezed out of victims.

The scheme relied on trust built online by other members of the network: relationships formed on dating sites and social media, victims gradually convinced they were helping a romantic partner they believed they had a future with. Once the money was sent, it had to pass through somewhere before disappearing for good. That's where Adonu's company came in, receiving more than $1.6 million total — including over $55,000 from a single victim in the Southern District of Iowa.

The federal court in Des Moines sentenced her to 70 months in prison, along with full restitution of the stolen funds: $1,655,640.76. A co-defendant, Naabanyin Aniagyei-Cobbold, tied to the same network, had already received a heavier sentence months earlier, in March 2026: 108 months — likely reflecting a more central role in running the operation.

This case shines a light on a piece of romance scams that often goes unseen: behind the person writing the messages and building the fake relationship, there's frequently an entire logistical network whose only job is making the money disappear once it's served its purpose.