The United States of America is considering setting out a date to hear the jail sentences for ten (10) Nigerians convicted for fraud scheme up to $215M.
The Nigerians have now been taken into custody due to their involvement in a massive $215 million worldwide fraud and email hacking scam that targeted over 1,000 victims across several nations.
Following guilty pleas on counts that included wire fraud, money laundering, and business email breach, the convictions were obtained last Friday in a federal court in Ohio. District Judge James Knepp II presided over the trial.
The Nigerians were found guilty along with fifteen Americans, including Peter Reed and Aruan Drake, of being a part of a transnational criminal network that prosecutors referred to as “Nigeria-linked” scam rings that operated in 19 nations and 47 U.S. states.
Five naturalized U.S. citizens are among the Nigerians found guilty. They are Chukwuemeka Evulukwu, Olabode Bankole, Ayorinde Emmanuel Adebayo, Ayobami Osas Christopher, and Kingsley Owusu. Others include Jeremiah Agina, Ademola Balogun, Olalekan Bashiru, and Emmanuel Okereke, all of whom are Nigerian citizens living in the United States.
A jury found Michael Awoyemi, another Nigerian, guilty, and named Emmanuel Essilfie, a Ghanaian, as a member of the fraud network.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office reports that 25 defendants have been found guilty in relation to the business email compromise (BEC) plot.
Reports indicate that the victims moved tens of thousands to millions of dollars into syndicate-controlled accounts. In one case, a company allegedly sent $2.7 million to a shell company run by gang members.
After that, a complicated web of bank accounts and cash transfer mechanisms was used to launder the illegal gains. According to authorities, some money was handled through the New Dolton Currency Exchange in the Chicago region, which is purportedly run by Lon Goodman, who is presently on trial for his involvement in the conspiracy, and turned into cashier’s checks. Goodman reportedly processed suspicious transactions even after the risks became apparent, according to the prosecution.
Since their conviction, assets connected to the syndicate have been confiscated by law authorities, including over $1.2 million in cash, bitcoin, and cashier’s checks.
Luxuries like a $45,000 Patek Philippe Nautilus watch, a $30,000 Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, a $140,000 Richard Mille Felipe Massa watch, and a 4,423-square-foot home in Lawrenceville, Georgia, were also seized.
ENigeria Newspaper can confirm that the convicted people’s sentencing dates have not yet been disclosed; according to U.S. authorities, the punishments will be decided after a study of each defendant’s unique circumstances.
Fraud scheme in US in recent times
Recall that ENigeria Newspaper reported that two Nigerians were charged in the United States with running a tax fraud scheme that lasted for years and involved stealing identities and making false claims for refunds worth more than $100 million.
