Heroin Dealer Who Stole $1M from Elderly 'Dates' Sent to Prison

A heroin dealer who violated his probation will spend 33 months in prison for stealing more than $1 million from elderly people via online dating services.

Krist Koranteng, 34, who has addresses in Burtonsville and Laurel, pleaded guilty earlier this year to a mail and wire fraud conspiracy, along with money laundering. Prosecutors say he also violated the terms of his probation for a 2013 conviction for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin.

A federal judge on Thursday sentenced Koranteng to another five months in prison for violating probation, to be followed by three years of supervised release. And Koranteng must pay restitution of $1,171,657, the amount officials say he stole from multiple victims.

Prosecutors allege Koranteng searched online dating sites for elderly men and women and began romantic relationships with them between September 2012 and February 2014. He then used false stories and promises to convince the victims to give him money via checks and wire transfer.

According to the plea agreement, the victims were told stories about investing in fake gold that required payments for shipping and storage; fictitious sick family members who needed money; fake hospital bills; and fake plane trips to visit the victims. Members of the conspiracy convinced the victims to mail checks to Kristsons LLC, a corporation that Koranteng operated, or to wire money into bank accounts held in the name of that corporation, which Koranteng also controlled.

To conceal the scheme from the victims, the conspirators created false documents, including false certificates of origin certifying the existence of gold bars, and false documentation creating the impression that the gold bars were being stored at a safe house for a fee.