Four Nigerians have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a series of romance scams across the United States.
The convicted individuals are:
- Patrick Edah, 40, a Nigerian citizen residing in the Toronto, Canada area
- Efe Egbowawa, 41, a Nigerian citizen residing in the Atlanta area
- Igocha Mac-Okor, 40, a Nigerian citizen residing in the Atlanta area
- Kay Ozegbe, 44, a naturalized U.S. citizen residing in the Atlanta area
All four were found guilty of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Their scheme involved misleading people into sending money to fake agents and shell corporations through email accounts and false identities on online dating platforms, according to court documents.
From 2017 to November 2021, the scammers used fake identities on dating websites, gaming apps, social media, and other online platforms to build friendships and romantic relationships with their targets, according to evidence presented in court.
They played different roles in the scheme, exploiting these relationships to persuade victims to send money via package delivery services, wire transfers, checks, and U.S. mail.
The scammers posed as potential friends or romantic partners, entering into online relationships with their victims.
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Edah, Egbowawa, Mac-Okor, and Ozegbe acted as “money mules” in the conspiracy to disguise the source of the funds, as stated in court documents.
This made it difficult to trace the money, as all four worked with others to move the fraudulent proceeds through multiple layers of bank accounts and shell corporations.
Egbowawa was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison on April 17, 2024, while Ozegbe received a 36-month sentence on September 23, 2024.
On October 30, 2024, Edah was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison, and Mac-Okor received a 50-month sentence.
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