A Ghanaian national living in Connecticut has been sentenced to four years in federal prison after a jury found he carried out a fraud scheme that used stolen identities and credit card information to obtain tens of thousands of dollars from the University of Connecticut. Federal prosecutors say the case was part of a broader pattern of fraudulent activity that targeted multiple universities across the country and generated more than half a million dollars in losses.

Dickson Alorwornu, 36, also known as “Dixon Al,” was sentenced in federal court in Hartford to 48 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Sarala V. Nagala after a jury previously convicted him of wire fraud. Authorities say the scheme relied on stolen personal information and fraudulent student enrollment to trigger tuition refunds that were redirected into bank accounts he controlled.

According to evidence presented during the trial, the scheme began in December 2017 when Alorwornu used the identities of other individuals to submit two applications to the University of Connecticut as non-degree students. These types of student accounts allow individuals to enroll in classes without formally entering a degree program. Prosecutors say he used this process as an entry point to execute the fraud.

After the applications were approved, Alorwornu funded the two student accounts using stolen credit card information belonging to three different victims. In total, more than $62,000 in fraudulent credit card charges were applied to the accounts to cover tuition and related costs for the classes.

Shortly after enrolling, Alorwornu withdrew from the courses. Because of the timing of the withdrawals, university policies required that a significant portion of the tuition be refunded. Investigators say Alorwornu then requested that the university issue refunds for the money that had been deposited into the student accounts. UConn ultimately transferred approximately $46,000 in refunds into bank accounts controlled by him.

Authorities say the scheme relied on the fact that universities often process tuition refunds automatically when students withdraw from courses within certain time frames. By depositing stolen funds into the accounts and then quickly requesting refunds, Alorwornu was able to convert fraudulent credit card payments into cash deposits sent directly to accounts under his control.

The investigation later revealed that the email accounts used in the UConn fraud were also connected to similar schemes targeting other universities. Federal authorities determined that those accounts were linked to fraudulent activity that collectively defrauded colleges and universities of more than $500,000.

Alorwornu was arrested on February 1, 2023 after investigators traced the fraudulent activity back to him. Following a trial, a federal jury found him guilty on October 29, 2024 of two counts of wire fraud.

Court records also show that this was not his first encounter with the criminal justice system. His criminal history includes a conviction in New York in 2017 related to the use of stolen credit cards and the misuse of other individuals’ personal identifying information. Prosecutors argued that the earlier offense demonstrated a pattern of identity and financial fraud.

Despite the conviction, Alorwornu had been released on a $50,000 bond while awaiting sentencing. As part of the judge’s order, he is required to report to federal prison on April 20 to begin serving his sentence.

Federal authorities say the case underscores the growing use of identity theft and financial fraud schemes that target educational institutions. By exploiting tuition refund systems, criminals can attempt to convert stolen credit card payments into legitimate-looking financial transfers.

The investigation into the scheme was carried out by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the University of Connecticut Police Department. The case was prosecuted in federal court by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward Chang and Elena Coronado. Officials say cases like this highlight the importance of cooperation between universities and law enforcement in detecting and preventing financial fraud schemes.

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