 |
| Prison |
Two Nigerians resident in the United States, Anthony Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu, have been sentenced to a collective 30 years for defrauding American citizens of $3.5 million.
How the Scam Worked
Ibekie and Aniukwu defrauded their victims by purporting to have substantial inheritances that required some money in order to be obtained. In each of the schemes, defendants convinced the victim to send money with the promise of repayment once the inheritance was secured.
In addition, they ran a romance scam apart from the inheritance scam. They had created fake romantic relationships with their victims using social media and dating websites. After gaining the trust and confidence of their victims, they convinced their victims to send them money.
Undercover Investigation
An undercover operation led to their arrest and conviction. Both individuals contacted victims under various pseudonyms and informed them that, in order to receive their purported inheritances, they needed funds. They also operated a business email compromise scheme that involved targeting corporate email accounts.
The combined losses of victims from their frauds totaled at least $3.5 million.
Sentencing Information
Ibekie, 59, of Oswego, Illinois was found guilty on 14 counts including wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, making false statements to a bank, and passport fraud. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Aniukwu, 50, of Romeoville, Illinois pled guilty to wire fraud and money laundering charges and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Sentencing of Accomplice
The sentencing for Jennifer Gosha, 52, a U.S. citizen and accomplice, is scheduled for December 18. She pleaded guilty to wire fraud and making false statements to a federal agent.
This case serves as a reminder of how severe the sentences can be for individuals involved in fraudulent schemes and of the constant vigilance required to guard against such scams.
0 Comments