Maryland Man Gets 9+ Years for $11M Money Laundering Scheme
A College Park, Maryland man thought he could manage a multimillion-dollar fraud empire from the shadows. Federal agents followed the money — and now Yahya Sowe is heading to prison for more than nine years. His case also carries a warning for any immigrant with a federal criminal conviction.
Maryland Man Sentenced to Over 9 Years in Federal Prison
A Maryland man will spend more than nine years in federal prison after leading a multimillion-dollar money laundering operation. On June 16, 2026, Judge Matthew J. Maddox sentenced Yahya Sowe, 42, of College Park, to 114 months in prison. The judge also ordered Sowe to pay $13,050,827.03 in restitution to victims and to forfeit $1 million.
Sowe pleaded guilty on December 15, 2025, to participating in a large, multi-member money laundering conspiracy. He admitted that more than $11 million was laundered under his management or supervision. The fraud schemes included business email compromise — where criminals trick companies into sending money to fake accounts — and theft from COVID-19 relief programs meant to help struggling businesses and workers.
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"Mr. Sowe profited from fraud schemes ranging from business email compromise to COVID-19 relief programs," said Akil Baldwin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Maryland. "The court's sentence and substantial restitution order demonstrate that there are severe consequences for abusing government programs and exploiting victims' trust." The investigation was led by HSI Maryland as part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), a multi-agency partnership created under Executive Order 14159 to target criminal organizations operating in the United States. According to background information on the case, 13 of 14 defendants in the conspiracy have already pleaded guilty, and the investigation remains ongoing.
What This Means for Immigrants
This case is a strong reminder that federal agencies are actively investigating financial crimes tied to immigration enforcement priorities. The HSTF specifically targets criminal activity by foreign nationals and uses all available tools — including removal proceedings — against those convicted. A federal felony conviction for money laundering can trigger serious immigration consequences, including deportation, even for lawful permanent residents (green card holders).
What to do
- If you or someone you know is under federal investigation for financial crimes, contact an immigration lawyer immediately — a criminal conviction can lead to removal proceedings (the formal process to deport someone from the US).
- If you hold a green card or other immigration status and are charged with a federal crime, ask your criminal defense attorney to consult with an immigration attorney before you accept any plea deal.
- If you receive a notice to appear in immigration court after a criminal conviction, do not ignore it — you have the right to attend your immigration court hearing and present a defense.
- If you are a victim of business email compromise or COVID-19 relief fraud, report it to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at ic3.gov.
Fishkin Law Firm, New York
A federal money laundering conviction is classified as an aggravated felony under the Immigration and Nationality Act, which means even a lawful permanent resident faces mandatory removal proceedings with very limited defenses available. If you are a non-citizen facing federal financial crime charges, you must insist that your criminal defense attorney coordinate with an immigration lawyer before any plea is entered — the immigration consequences can be worse than the criminal sentence itself. Do not wait until after sentencing to seek immigration counsel.