Several Montgomery County residents are among those who have now pled guilty in a large, multi-member federal money laundering conspiracy that involved millions of dollars in fraud proceeds, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.
Prosecutors announced that Yahya “Cash” Sowe, 42, of Silver Spring, and Victor Killen, 32, of Hyattsville, pled guilty to conspiring to engage in a wide-ranging money laundering operation tied to large-scale wire fraud. As part of his plea, Sowe admitted he served as a manager or supervisor of the conspiracy, personally obtained at least $1 million, and helped facilitate more than $11 million in money laundering involving over a dozen victim entities. Killen admitted that at least $3 million in money laundering occurred through his direct participation.
Federal officials say the conspiracy began in 2021 and continued into February 2024. Sowe and his co-conspirators used encrypted communications to coordinate the laundering of fraud proceeds and created shell companies to open bank accounts used to receive and move stolen funds. Prosecutors said the group frequently layered transactions by moving money rapidly through multiple accounts, making recovery more difficult for victims and law enforcement.
The victims included a wide range of entities, such as government agencies, an environmental trust, an urban redevelopment program, a medical center, a transportation and logistics company, a school district, a college, and a county government.
Sowe also admitted to additional criminal conduct, including a credit card fraud scheme involving unauthorized charges through a merchant services account. He further acknowledged participating in pandemic-related fraud by submitting false employee retention credit (ERC) tax filings in 2023, with the conspiracy seeking more than $1 million in fraudulent ERC funds.
Multiple other Montgomery County residents have already pled guilty in connection with the case. Gedeon Agbeyome, 31, of Montgomery County, previously admitted to conspiring to commit money laundering, along with Areal El-Lovieta Harris, 24, of Hanover. Emily Gil Arias, 28, of Silver Spring; Blondel Ndjouandjouaka, 31, of Silver Spring; and Lorena Perez Herrera, 29, of Silver Spring, also previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. Agbeyome additionally admitted to aggravated identity theft.
In total, 14 defendants were charged in the conspiracy. Thirteen have now pled guilty. One defendant, Faizou Gnora, 28, formerly of Alexandria, Virginia, remains a fugitive.
Sowe and Killen each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Sentencing is scheduled before U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Maddox, with Sowe set to be sentenced on March 26, 2026, and Killen on April 16, 2026. Sentences will be determined after consideration of federal sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.
