HOUSTON, Texas — A Houston couple has been sentenced for their roles in a romance scheme that defrauded elderly victims across the nation, according to U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Darlington Akporugo, a 47-year-old, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud, while his wife, 37-year-old Jasmin Sood, also known as Jaslynn Washington, entered her plea to the same charges.
U.S. District Judge Charles Eskridge sentenced Akporugo to 188 months in prison, while Sood received a 121-month sentence. Both will serve three years of supervised release following their imprisonment and must pay restitution totaling $3,123,073. During the hearing, victims testified about the couple’s deceitful tactics, which included coercing one victim into purchasing a luxury vehicle and renting a mansion for them. Authorities arrested the couple while they were using the victim’s vehicle and living in her rented home.
The court described the scheme as heartless and far-reaching, noting that Akporugo and Sood deliberately targeted older women, including widows. Judge Eskridge highlighted the financial devastation caused by their actions and praised the victims for their bravery in coming forward. Akporugo admitted to being a central figure in the Houston-based scheme, which targeted victims from Chicago to Kentucky through online romances, convincing them to send money to bank accounts he controlled…