A 32-year-old man accused of defrauding a church in Georgia, United States, of more than $60,000 has been arrested and booked into jail after returning to America from Ghana.
The suspect, identified as Ousmane Gassama Diaby, a resident of Arlington, Virginia, was taken into custody earlier in October 2026 following an investigation by the Troup County Sheriff’s Office.
According to authorities, the investigation began in late 2025 after a local church reported losing more than $60,000 in an alleged fraudulent scheme.
Investigators from the sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division examined the complaint and subsequently obtained arrest warrants for Diaby.
Suspect Arrested After Returning From Ghana
In a dramatic development, Major Nathan Taylor of the Troup County Sheriff’s Office joined an investigator from the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office on a trip to Newark, New Jersey, to take the suspect into custody following his return from Ghana.
Diaby was subsequently transported to Georgia and booked into the Troup County Jail.
Authorities confirmed that he faces multiple criminal charges, including five counts of identity theft, money laundering, theft by taking and initiation of deceptive commercial email.
According to reports, the suspect is being held on a $131,000 bond.
Sheriff’s Office Sends Strong Warning to Scammers
Reacting to the arrest, Major Nathan Taylor emphasized that the authorities would not allow individuals accused of defrauding churches, businesses or residents to escape accountability.
He stressed that investigators would pursue suspected offenders wherever necessary to bring them before the courts.
The case has also raised concerns about the growing threat of financial scams targeting religious institutions and organizations across the United States.
While investigators have established that the church reportedly lost more than $60,000, authorities have not publicly identified the affected congregation.
It also remains unclear whether any of the allegedly stolen funds have been recovered.
The arrest highlights the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies in tracking suspects accused of financial crimes.
With Diaby now facing multiple charges in Georgia, attention will turn to the upcoming legal proceedings and whether prosecutors can establish his involvement in the alleged scheme.
