Five Nigerians have been sentenced to not less than 159 years in prison by a U.S court for defrauding over 100 Americans, companies and government entities a sum total of $17m.
In a statement seen by NEWSMAXNG on the US Department of Justice website on Wednesday, the defendants include, Damilola Kumapayi, Sandra Iribhogbe, Edgal Iribhogbe, Chidindu Okeke and Chiagoziem Okeke,
Signed by acting US Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, Ray Combs, the statement also stated that the defendants formed a crime group to execute their plans.
According to Combs, the defendants started their operation back in 2017 and targeted elderly and vulnerable people.
He said; “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.”
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Before the court, the defendants’ faced charges on multiple counts bordering on conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering.
The US District Judge, Amos Mazzant sentenced them to different years of jail terms after they pleaded guilty to the charges against them.
The sentencing says; “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.
“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.”
On why they were given lengthy sentenced, the attorney said;
“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.”
