A United States federal court has handed down a combined sentence of more than 159 years to five Nigerian nationals found guilty of defrauding over 100 individuals, companies, and government agencies of approximately $17 million.
Details of the sentencing were made public in a statement issued by the U.S. Department of Justice and signed by Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, Ray Combs.
The document, released on Wednesday, revealed that the convicted individuals, Damilola Kumapayi, Sandra Iribhogbe, Edgal Iribhogbe, Chidindu Okeke, and Chiagoziem Okeke, were part of a transnational criminal enterprise that operated from as far back as 2017.
According to Combs, the fraud ring specifically preyed on the elderly and vulnerable, employing several deceptive strategies, including romance scams on online dating platforms, to swindle unsuspecting victims out of their money, sometimes even their entire life savings.
“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,” Combs stated.
He further disclosed, “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.”
All five individuals were charged with multiple offenses including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. While some pleaded guilty, others were convicted after trial, leading to varying prison terms imposed by U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant.
Breakdown of the sentences are as follows:
Damilola Kumapayi, aged 39 and residing in Plano, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and was sentenced to 109 months in prison.
Sandra Iribhogbe Popnen, 50, also from Plano, admitted to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, receiving a sentence of 365 months.
Edgal Iribhogbe, 51, of Allen, was convicted at trial on the same charges and handed 480 months.
Both Chidindu Okeke and Chiagoziem Okeke, aged 32 and based in Houston, were found guilty and each sentenced to 480 months in federal prison.
Commenting on the sentencing, Combs emphasized the U.S. government’s commitment to cracking down on fraudulent schemes that target its citizens.
“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,” he stressed.
