Five Nigerian fraudsters jailed 129 years for stealing $17 million in romance, investment, BEC scams

A U.S. federal court in Texas has sentenced five members of a Nigerian scamming ring to a combined 129 years in prison for their roles in a transnational romance and wire fraud scheme that swindled victims out of over $17 million.

U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant handed down the sentences to Damilola Kumapayi, Sandra Iribhogbe, Edgal Iribhogbe, Chidindu Okeke, and Chiagoziem Okeke on Monday after they pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Texas, the fraudsters were part of a sophisticated syndicate that employed various schemes, including online romance scams, business email compromise scams, investor fraud, and unemployment insurance fraud. These scams targeted unsuspecting individuals and entities, many of whom were elderly.

U.S. officials described the scheme as “well-coordinated,” noting that it specifically targeted elderly individuals through online dating sites. The Nigerian scammers successfully stole over $17 million, which they laundered through a network of bank accounts, sending funds to co-conspirators and businesses in Africa and Asia.

FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Joseph Rothrock emphasized the devastating impact of the scheme, stating, “The defendants were part of a transnational organised crime syndicate that defrauded victims collectively out of millions of dollars. For some individuals, this was their life savings, and they were unable to financially recover.”

Following their arrest, the five defendants pleaded guilty to all charges. Judge Mazzant sentenced Chidindu Okeke, Chiagoziem Okeke, and Edgal Iribhogbe to 40 years in prison each. Sandra Iribhogbe received a prison term of over 30 years, while Damilola Kumapayi was sentenced to a lesser term.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive threat of online fraud and the importance of vigilance in protecting oneself from scams. The FBI remains committed to pursuing justice for victims and bringing perpetrators of these crimes to justice.