Seven Nigerians have been sentenced to prison in the United States for defrauding several 'lover victims' of over N1 billion in a romantic swindle.

 

The Northern District of Oklahoma has sentenced Afeez Adebara to four years in jail for leading a network of money launderers in an online Nigerian romance scam that deceived several victims, including elderly people across the United States, and resulted in losses of over $2.5 million.

According to a news statement from the United States Court of Justice, Adebara pled guilty to conspiracy to launder money on November 3, 2020.

Between 2017 and 2019, according to court documents and testimony, Adebara and his co-conspirators knowingly concealed the proceeds of a romance scam operation by moving money between and among multiple bank accounts that were opened with fake identities to obscure the source of the funds and the co-conspirators' identities.

Adebara went further  to hide the source of the cash, taking a fee for himself and sending the rest of the money to Nigerian online romance fraudsters in the form of automobiles and vehicle components

An investigation by the FBI revealed that Adebara coordinated with overseas co-conspirators who assumed false identities on online dating websites and social media platforms to defraud victims. 

The culprit was said to have opened multiple accounts using fraudulent identities, then provided the account and routing numbers to the overseas co-conspirators. 

The overseas co-conspirators told victims that they were residents of the United States working or travelling abroad. 

The foreign co-conspirators asked for even bigger money as internet connections persisted, claiming to need the funding to carry out business ventures or return to the United States.

In order to ensure that the money is disbursed as needed, the Overseas Co-conspirators ordered the victims to wire monies to particular banking accounts.

John Ogundele was meanwhile sentenced to 33 months' jail as part of the scheme; Nigerian Paul Usoro, who also resides in Norman, is a legal permanent resident of the United States, was sentenced to 12 months incarceration, including six in domestic detention.

 Joshua Ditep, a Nigerian, was sentenced to ten months in jail, while Tobiloba Kehinde was sentenced to eight months in prison, four of which were to be served in home confinement.

Chibuzo Obiefuna and Jamiu Adedeji were also given time served sentences.

The statement was made by Justice Department Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr., Acting U.S. Attorney Clinton J. Johnson for the Northern District of Oklahoma, and Special Agent in Charge Melissa Godbold of the FBI-Oklahoma City Field Office.

 The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Babasijibomi Moore of the Criminal Division's Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Nassar of the Northern District of Oklahoma.