Court Denies Motion to Dismiss Fraud Charges Against Alorwornu, Highlights Bitcoin Links to Case
On Thursday, September 19, 2024, the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut ruled against Dickson Alorwornu, denying his second motion to dismiss the indictment related to wire fraud charges. The court’s decision came during a session presided over by Judge Sarala V. Nagala, who had previously addressed similar issues in the case.
Alorwornu was indicted on two counts of wire fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1343, accused of orchestrating a scheme involving stolen credit card information and fraudulent student accounts at the University of Connecticut (UConn). The indictment alleges that between December 2017 and February 2018, Alorwornu devised a plan to obtain credit card details without authorization, created false identities to establish student accounts, and sought refunds into bank accounts he controlled.
The case has been marked by several procedural delays and evidence disclosures by the prosecution, which Alorwornu’s defense argued were not timely. Most notably, the government disclosed a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) from Chase Bank shortly before the second jury selection, linking the alleged fraud to other individuals and an account in Ghana. This report included details about various fraudulent transactions and suggested connections to individuals using the email address tied to potential romance fraud schemes.
In his motion, Alorwornu contended that the late disclosure of the SAR constituted a violation of his rights under the precedent set in Brady v. Maryland, which requires the prosecution to share exculpatory evidence. Alorwornu argued that the SAR could demonstrate that the fraudulent activities were not solely attributable to him, potentially undermining the prosecution’s case.
However, the court found that even if the SAR was exculpatory, it did not meet the threshold for a Brady violation. Judge Nagala stated that there was insufficient evidence of materiality or prejudice to warrant dismissal of the indictment. The court highlighted that the trial had been continued multiple times to allow for the review and potential use of the SAR, which mitigated concerns over the timing of its disclosure.
Judge Nagala emphasized that the prosecution’s conduct, while not ideal, did not reflect a pattern of egregious misconduct that would justify the extreme measure of dismissing the charges. The court noted that the timing of disclosures had not impeded Alorwornu’s ability to prepare his defense adequately.
Additionally, the judge rejected Alorwornu’s request to exclude certain evidence under Rule 404(b) as a sanction against the prosecution for the disclosure issues. The court maintained that such evidence was admissible and that the late disclosures did not negate its relevance.
The case has drawn attention not only to the allegations of fraud but also to the mention of Bitcoin in the context of the investigation. Reports indicated that a Bitcoin address associated with the case had received funds from a victim of a romance fraud scheme linked to an individual in Ghana. This connection to cryptocurrency adds a layer of complexity to the proceedings, as investigators explore the financial trails related to the alleged fraudulent activities.
The court’s ruling on September 19 is a significant moment in the ongoing proceedings against Alorwornu, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The trial is scheduled to continue on October 22, 2024, allowing the defense further time to investigate the disclosed evidence and prepare for the upcoming proceedings.
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