Ten Nigerian nationals have been convicted in the United States for their involvement in a large-scale transnational internet fraud scheme that defrauded victims of approximately $125 million.
The convictions were announced by the United States Attorney’s Office, which disclosed that the Nigerians were among 25 defendants found guilty of fraud and money laundering charges after a four-day trial at the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.
Those convicted include Oluwafemi Michael Awoyemi, Ayobami Osas Christopher, Emmanuel “Omo Igbo” Okereke, Olalekan “Ola Bash” Bashiru, Casey Adesulu Jr, Jeremiah Agina, Ademola Balogun, Olabode Bankole, Chukwuemeka Evulukwu and Ayorinde Emmanuel Adebayo.
According to prosecutors, the group operated sophisticated cyber fraud networks with links to Nigeria, targeting individuals, businesses, and organisations across multiple states in the United States and other countries.
“Their objective was to gain access to e-mail accounts held by individual users. The co-conspirators would then monitor the communications and other activities of the individual email users to learn about their business practices and contacts,” the prosecutor’s office said.
Investigators revealed that once access was obtained, the compromised accounts were used to send highly convincing fraudulent messages, deceiving victims into making payments for what appeared to be legitimate business transactions.
Authorities noted that the operation had a global reach, with victims identified in countries including Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia.
Funds obtained from the scheme were reportedly channelled through a network of fraudulent bank accounts and transfer systems to conceal their origin and facilitate distribution among members of the syndicate.
In total, the group is said to have generated about $125 million, with roughly $50 million allegedly converted into cashier’s cheques processed through a Chicago-based money service business used to move the illicit proceeds.
In one instance cited in court, a victim company transferred $2.7 million into a shell account controlled by members of the group.
Following their arrest by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, authorities recovered nearly $1.2 million in cash, cryptocurrency, and cashier’s cheques, as well as luxury items including high-end wristwatches and a residential property in Georgia.
The convicted individuals are expected to be sentenced at a later date, with penalties to be determined based on their respective roles in the offences and any prior criminal history.
