$6M Elder Romance Scheme Sends Brothers To Prison

GAITHERSBURG, MD — Two Gaithersburg brothers have been sentenced for a conspiracy to launder money, in which they would ask isolated and older people for money under the false pretense of a romantic relationship.

David Annor, 28, was sentenced to three years in prison and Lesley Annor, 23, was sentenced to 20 months. The brothers laundered about $6,200,000 through about 34 bank accounts throughout their scheme. They have been ordered to pay $6,278,250 in restitution.

“David and Lesley Annor preyed on hundreds of elderly victims around the world. They took advantage of their trust to selfishly obtain millions of dollars in fraud proceeds. Now, they will spend time in federal prison for the severe financial fraud they have inflicted on vulnerable elderly victims,” said United States Attorney for the District of Maryland, Erek L. Barron in a segment announcing the sentence. “This sentencing should serve as a deterrent from others conspiring to defraud our elderly citizens.”

The brothers pleaded guilty, admitting to targeting elderly people on social media, dating websites, e-mail, and online. Once they gained the trust of the victims, they would ask them to send money. One woman thought she was having a conversation with an underwater welder from Canada who lived in Florida and worked near Ireland — she thought the conversations were romantic, and agreed to send money.

“Today’s sentencing demonstrates the FBI’s and our law enforcement partners’ commitment to pursuing justice for victims of elder fraud,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division in the sentencing announcement. “We will continue to track down criminals like Annor and his co-conspirators—who coldheartedly prey on their elderly victims’ isolation, loneliness, and vulnerability and then pocket their hard-earned money—and hold them to account for their cruel scams.”