A 30-year-old man from Georgia, Abdoul Aziz Bah, pled guilty last week to money laundering linked to the defrauding of a Newbury Park family attempting to purchase a local home. Bah entered his plea to a felony count of money laundering connected to the family’s wiring of over $200,000 to an account he allegedly controlled instead of the victims’ escrow company.
According to prosecutors, Bah created multiple false corporations to facilitate and launder large sums of cash stolen from real estate transactions. After receiving the Newbury Park family’s funds, he allegedly divided the money into smaller amounts and transferred it to accounts managed by a codefendant, a 39-year-old woman from Georgia, who also used fraudulent corporations for similar purposes.
Bah appeared before Ventura County Superior Court Judge Ryan Wright, utilizing a French interpreter for the proceedings. He is scheduled for sentencing on September 26, where he faces up to three years in jail. The court has ordered Bah to pay over $201,000 in restitution, of which he has so far provided $5,000.
He remains in county jail on a $200,000 bail, while his codefendant faces a $1 million bail and has an early disposition conference set for the end of the month.
In light of this case, the District Attorney’s Office has urged the public to exercise caution when wiring funds during real estate transactions. Buyers are advised to independently verify instructions from escrow agents, especially if they receive unexpected emails or messages indicating changes in banking details. Such communications should be considered suspicious.
Bah’s conviction stems from an investigation by the real estate fraud unit of the District Attorney’s Office, with assistance from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Unit, which facilitated the extradition of both defendants.