Daryl Robert Harrison from Dayton, Ohio, falsely went by Prince Daryl R. Attipoe and Prophet Daryl R. Attipoe for around six years until being found out and convicted of it a few months ago. This false persona was the cause of over 800,000 dollars worth of fraud by conning people into making safe investments with the Ghanaian Prince and Prophet. Due to this, he was finally sentenced to 20 years in prison this Wednesday.
Most of Harrison’s victims were congregants of the Power House of Prayer Ministries, of which Harrison and his stepdad claimed to be ministers. Power House of Prayer Ministries was founded by Harrison’s stepdad, and this organization was said to have sponsored “religious services in various church facilities and private residences throughout the Greater Dayton area, Southwestern Ohio area, and Parker, Colorado.”
Prosecutors say Harrison also went to local establishments like Starbucks, IHOPs, fitness centers, and car washes to seek victims posing as his royal persona.
The victims of this fraud believed they were investing in African diamond mining enterprises and trucking companies, companies of which the supposed “Prince” claimed to have had connections since they were in the African nation; therefore, Harrison assured his victims an investment return of 28% to 33%.
It appears that these investments of thousands of dollars were withdrawn from the church’s bank accounts just days after receiving them; and even though his wife, who is taking care of their six children, is battling stage IV cancer; they were used by Harrison and his stepdad personal expenses such as luxury vehicles, airplane tickets, hotel accommodations, rental cars, and renting a house in Colorado.
Harrison had asked for a shorter sentence hoping that the citation of supportive letters written by family members and parishioners would help. However, how can the judge ignore the prosecutor’s descriptions of the man written in court filings, where they described Harrison as an “extremely self-centered, self-possessed sociopath who… further lacks any empathy or sympathy for his victims… intimidated and threatened his victims to establish and maintain control over them.”, and explained that “each of the Defendant’s fraud crimes was committed in the cold, calculated and premeditated fashion.”
