A United States court has sentenced five Nigerian fraudsters to over 159 years in prison for scamming over 100 Americans, businesses, and government entities out of $17 million.
This was said in a statement posted on the US Department of Justice website on Wednesday and signed by Ray Combs, the acting US Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas.
According to the statement, the defendants, Damilola Kumapayi, Sandra Iribhogbe, Edgal Iribhogbe, Chidindu Okeke, and Chiagoziem Okeke, were members of a transnational organised crime ring.
The attorney emphasised that the defendants launched the scam in 2017 and targeted elderly and vulnerable persons using a variety of techniques to extract money from their victims, including, in some cases, their life savings.
Comb stated, “The defendants coordinated how to extract money from their victims and then how to disguise, disburse, and launder that money once they successfully defrauded their victims.
“The scheme resulted in approximately $17 million fraudulently obtained from at least 100 individual victims, companies, and government entities from across the world. The scheme specifically targeted elderly persons and used various schemes, such as online dating sites, to lure their victims.
“Once funds were obtained from their victims, the defendants laundered the money through a network of various bank accounts and sent money to bank accounts, co-conspirators and businesses located in Africa and Asia.”
Following their arrest, they were charged with various counts of conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering, to which they pleaded guilty.
Following their guilty pleas, US District Judge Amos Mazzant sentenced them to various years in prison.
“Damilola Kumapayi, 39, of Plano, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and was sentenced to 109 months in federal prison.
“Sandra Iribhogbe Popnen, 50, of Plano, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and conspiring to commit money laundering and was sentenced to 365 months in federal prison.
“Edgal Iribhogbe, 51, of Allen, was found guilty at trial of conspiring to commit wire fraud and conspiring to commit money laundering and was sentenced to 480 months in federal prison,” Combs stated.
He added, “Chidindu Okeke, 32, of Houston, was found guilty at trial of conspiring to commit wire fraud and conspiring to commit money laundering and was sentenced to 480 months in federal prison.
“Chiagoziem Okeke, 32, of Houston, was found guilty at trial of conspiring to commit wire fraud and conspiring to commit money laundering and was sentenced to 480 months in federal prison.”
The lawyer stated that the sentencing was part of the US efforts to track down fraudsters who prey on its citizens, stressing that America remains resolute in bringing such fraudsters to justice.
“Transnational organised criminals targeting the hard-earned savings of elderly and vulnerable populations are simply despicable.
“The defendants’ lengthy sentences in this case reflect the seriousness of their crimes and the dedication of law enforcement officers and prosecutors to bring them to justice,” Combs concluded.
