Month: March 2026

A Connecticut man was sentenced on March 5, 2026, to nine years’ imprisonment for wire fraud and money laundering stemming from his participation in a romance scam that affected victims across the country, including in central Iowa.

According to public court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Naabanyin Aniagyei-Cobbold, 30, played an integral part in an extensive romance scam conspiracy—a fraudulent scheme in which individuals create fake profiles on internet dating sites and other social media platforms to exploit victims for financial gain. Aniagyei-Cobbold operated a fake company, Alpha Distributions LLC, that he used to receive money from victims. Aniagyei-Cobbold recruited and coached at least one other individual through creating a sham entity, a website, and opening bank accounts—all for the purpose of receiving money from romance scam victims.

Aniagyei-Cobbold received over $1.5 million from victims, including over $400,000 from a victim living in the Southern District of Iowa. The victims sent Aniagyei-Cobbold money at the request of their purported romantic partners, believing it was going to be used to facilitate uniting them with their partner, among other things. Many victims drained their retirement accounts, sold their homes and vehicles, returned to work after retirement, and borrowed substantial sums from friends and family.

During the conspiracy, Aniagyei-Cobbold created and starred in a music video titled “S.C.A.M.” which contained lyrics about receiving “scam money” and “laundering it up,” with “money coming in” and “living lavish.” In one frame of the video, Aniagyei-Cobbold poses next to a vehicle on which “SCAM” is spelled out in on the hood of the car in one-hundred-dollar bills.

When confronted by the FBI, Aniagyei-Cobbold lied about the nature of Alpha Distributions LLC and why the victims were sending him so much money, claiming Alpha Distributions was a legitimate company used to source electronics for individuals in Africa. He produced false invoices, receipts, and other documentation in response to a federal grand jury subpoena in an attempt to further obstruct the investigation.

“Romance scammers prey on victims when they are at their most vulnerable,” said Eugene Kowel, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Omaha Field Office. “They exploit people by convincing them they are in a real relationship, then slowly abuse that trust to steal their life savings, often leading to bankruptcy. This case is an egregious example of the ruthless persistence exhibited by scammers to enrich themselves at the expense of vulnerable people. The FBI will continue working with all of our partners to apprehend these criminals and bring them to justice.”

“The financial and emotional harm caused by this scheme has been devastating. Victims were deliberately targeted and manipulated through deception and false relationships, often losing money they could not afford to lose. Many were elderly or living on fixed incomes, and the impact has extended beyond financial loss to broken trust, emotional trauma, and lasting hardship for families,” said Polk County Sheriff Kevin J. Schneider. “The Polk County Sheriff’s Office appreciates the strong partnership with our federal law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in holding those responsible accountable and seeking justice for victims across central Iowa. We remain committed to protecting our communities, supporting victims, and working collaboratively to uphold the rule of law.”

In addition to the term of imprisonment, Aniagyei-Cobbold was ordered to pay $1,554,442.46 in restitution. After completing his prison term, Aniagyei-Cobbold will serve a three-year term of supervised release.

Co-defendant, Nana Takyiwa Adonu, will be sentenced on July 16, 2026.

United States Attorney David C. Waterman of the Southern District of Iowa made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Omaha Cyber Task Force and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Lubben prosecuted the case.

According to the FBI, in 2024, approximately 59,000 people fell victim to romance-related scams, losing over $672 million dollars. The FBI says that many times, once a victim realizes that they have been exploited, they feel embarrassed or ashamed, and do not want to let anyone know what happened to them, including law enforcement. However, the FBI encourages anyone who has been victimized by this fraud or unsuccessfully targeted to file a complaint. If you suspect an online relationship is a scam, stop all contact immediately. If you have already sent money, report any transfer of funds to your financial institution and contact law enforcement.

If you or someone you know has been targeted by a scam, contact the Iowa Attorney General’s office at 1-888-777-4590 or file a complaint online: https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers/file-a-consumer-complaint. You can also report fraud complaints to your local FBI field office by calling 1‑800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or visiting https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety.

A juvenile has been taken into custody following a violent incident Tuesday afternoon in Burlington that involved an assault and a firearm discharge.

According to the Burlington Police Department, officers were called to the 1500 block of Thul Street at approximately 2:26 p.m. on March 10th after receiving reports of a large fight and a gunshot being fired.

When officers arrived on scene, they located a juvenile victim who had reportedly been pistol whipped by another juvenile with a handgun. During the assault, police say the suspect struck the victim with the firearm, causing it to discharge. The round struck a nearby residence. Authorities reported that no individuals were struck by gunfire.

While investigating the incident, a Des Moines County deputy observed a vehicle leaving the area with several juveniles inside. Deputies conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle near Highway 99 and Tama Road for a traffic violation.

During the stop, law enforcement located the juvenile suspect along with a firearm inside the vehicle.

The juvenile suspect has been charged with willful injury, going armed with intent, aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon, reckless use of a firearm causing damage, and persons ineligible to carry a dangerous weapon.

Police say the incident appears to be isolated and that there is no ongoing threat to the public.

The suspect was transported to the Lee County Juvenile Detention Center and is currently being held without bond.

The Burlington Police Department was assisted in the investigation by the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities remind the public that a criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The Fort Madison Police Department is asking residents for help following reports of recent car burglaries.

Police are asking anyone with home security cameras in the area of the 3000 block of Avenue L through the 3300 block, and south to Avenue P, to check their footage for any suspicious activity.

In a social media post, the department asked residents to review video recorded between March 6th and March 7th that may show suspicious people, vehicles, or other unusual activity in the neighborhood.

Anyone who notices something unusual, or believes their footage may be helpful to investigators, is asked to contact the Fort Madison Police Department and reference the request.

Police say community cooperation plays an important role in helping keep neighborhoods safe.

Strong thunderstorms moved through Southeast Iowa Tuesday evening, prompting multiple Severe Thunderstorm Warnings and Tornado Warnings as storms tracked across the region.

Some of the first tornadic storm cells were reported in Fort Madison, Bonaparte, West Point, and Donnellson. Reports indicate storm damage to a home in Bonaparte and a metal building in Donnellson. Pea sized hail was also reported in West Point as the storms moved through Lee and surrounding counties.

More significant hail was reported elsewhere in eastern Iowa as the storms intensified. The National Weather Service received reports of hail measuring nearly 2.75 inches in diameter about three miles southwest of West Branch, 2.5 inch hail near Iowa City, and 2 inch hail south of Cedar Rapids. Hail larger than two inches is roughly the size of a hen egg and can cause damage to vehicles, roofs, and crops.

Near Donnellson in Lee County, a cattle shed and feed shed were blown down roughly three miles west southwest of town along the path of a tornado warning. At this time it has not yet been confirmed whether the damage was caused by a tornado or strong straight line winds. Storm reports and damage surveys are continuing, and the National Weather Service may release additional information if tornado damage is confirmed.

During the height of the severe weather Tuesday evening, Fort Madison residents also received a less common alert. Fort Madison Fire Chief Chad Hannum confirmed a hazardous materials warning sent to phones in the area was the result of an accidental activation of the alert system and there was no hazardous material incident.

The storms also led to a few schedule changes across the region. In Mount Pleasant, the 7th and 8th grade band performance has been rescheduled for Tuesday, March 24th, which will be the same night as the 4th through 8th grade choir concert. The Mount Pleasant Community School District PTA meeting has also been postponed and will now be held Thursday, March 12th at 6:30 p.m. at Harlan Elementary School. All parents and teachers are welcome to attend.