Two Nigerians, Anthony Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu, have been sentenced to a combined 30 years in US federal prison for defrauding American victims of $3.5 million through inheritance and romance scams.
According to a press release from the US Department of Justice, the duo exploited their victims by claiming they had received substantial inheritances that required payment to be claimed.
They also engaged in romance scams by forming online relationships, building trust and convincing their victims to send money.
The statement revealed that an undercover investigation uncovered the schemes, which also included business email compromise (BEC) fraud targeting corporate accounts. The fraudulent activities caused significant financial losses to victims across the US
Mr Ibekie, 59, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted on 14 counts, including wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, passport fraud, and making false statements to a bank. His sentencing was delivered on November 23, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Steven Seeger.
Mr Aniukwu, 50, pleaded guilty last year to charges of wire fraud and money laundering. He was sentenced on November 8, 2024, to 10 years in prison.
Both men operated out of Chicago suburbs, deceiving their victims through social media, dating websites, and fraudulent business schemes.
The investigation also implicated a US citizen, Jennifer Gosha, 52, from Oak Park, Illinois.
“A third defendant, Jennifer Gosha, 52, a U.S. citizen from Oak Park, Ill., pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges of wire fraud and making false statements to a federal agent. Gosha is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Seeger on December 18, 2024,” the press release said.
The Department of Justice emphasised the severity of the crimes, highlighting the significant impact on the victims.
