MARYLAND (WBFF) — Two Maryland men, Yahya “Cash” Sowe, 42, of Silver Spring, and Victor Killen, 32, of Hyattsville, have pled guilty to participating in a multi-million-dollar money laundering conspiracy, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced on December 18.
Sowe admitted that he acted as a manager in the conspiracy, personally obtaining $1 million while helping to facilitate over $11 million in money laundering involving more than 12 victims. Killen acknowledged that at least $3 million in illicit proceeds passed through his direct involvement.
The conspiracy involved 14 defendants, thirteen of whom have already pled guilty. Officials say Faizou Gnora, 28, from Alexandria, Virginia, remains a fugitive.
From 2021 through February 2024, Sowe and Killen conspired with multiple individuals to launder proceeds from a large-scale wire fraud scheme targeting government agencies, nonprofit organizations, medical centers, school districts, colleges, transportation companies, and county governments.
The conspirators used encrypted electronic communications and layered financial transactions to obscure the nature, location, and ownership of the fraud proceeds, complicating efforts to recover the stolen funds.
In addition, Sowe admitted to participation in credit card fraud, false employee rebate claims, and pandemic-related fraud through Employee Retention Credit (ERC) filings, seeking over $1 million in fraudulent ERCs.
Other co-conspirators who pled guilty include:
Adanegbe Gift Osemwenkhae, 39, Upper Marlboro, MD
Emily Gil Arias, 28, Silver Spring, MD
Fatoumata Boiro, 32, Largo, MD
Lawrence Ogunsanwo, 33
Lakeisha Parker, 33, Baltimore, MD
Martin Ogisi, 37, Severn, MD
Blondel Ndjouandjouaka, 31, Silver Spring, MD
Kevin Colon, 34, Curtis Bay, MD
Lorena Perez Herrera, 29, Silver Spring, MD
The District Court previously sentenced several co-defendants to federal prison and restitution amounts ranging from $733,941.48 to $11,077,044.17.
Sowe and Killen each face a maximum of 20 years in federal prison. Their sentencing hearings are scheduled for March 26, 2026, at 2 p.m. and April 16, 2026, at 10 a.m., respectively.
