PROVIDENCE — A Rhode Island woman was convicted today by a federal jury on charges of money laundering conspiracy and multiple counts of money laundering, the U.S. Attorney’s office announced.
The conviction concludes a case involving millions of dollars laundered through a business façade that facilitated international financial fraud.
Jennifer O. Djan, 32, a resident of Pawtucket and originally from Ghana, was found guilty after approximately four-and-a-half hours of jury deliberation, which followed six days of testimony.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha detailed how Djan’s operations played a “critical role” in a scam that deceived victims across the U.S., channeling their money to co-conspirators in Ghana.
According to evidence presented at trial, Djan, starting in September 2020, registered a fictitious logistics business in a Pawtucket apartment she shared with family members.
She then quickly set up multiple business banking accounts, receiving and disbursing fraudulent funds, including significant sums sent directly from victims of the scam.
Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division, Jodi Cohen, underscored the impact of Djan’s actions, noting her attempts to disguise illicit financial activities across U.S. and Ghanaian bank accounts.
The verdict, according to Cohen, represents a significant step in mitigating financial fraud and safeguarding potential victims.
The search of Djan’s residence in November 2022, under a federal warrant, found no evidence of legitimate business operations, reinforcing the prosecution’s case of deliberate and orchestrated fraud.
Djan is scheduled for sentencing on April 22, 2025.
Until then, she has been ordered detained, awaiting a sentence determination by a federal district judge, factoring in U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutory considerations.