FBI Arrests 39-Year-Old Atlanta-Based Nigerian Over COVID-19 and Romance Fraud Scheme

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has arrested Ebuka Iwuagwu, a 39-year-old Nigerian living in Atlanta, for allegedly orchestrating a multi-layered fraud operation involving romance scams and COVID-19 relief fund theft. Court documents reveal that Mr Iwuagwu was indicted on April 2 at the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio on eight counts of money laundering and conspiracy.

According to the indictment, Mr Iwuagwu and his accomplices defrauded victims through romance scams and exploited pandemic-related unemployment benefits. FBI investigators linked him to four separate complaints from victims who lost substantial sums between March and May 2020. One victim from Ohio reportedly wired him $37,500, while another in California sent $20,800 to a company account under his control. Two additional victims transferred $21,565 and $65,500 to an account registered with a fictitious name that agents believe was also operated by Mr Iwuagwu.

During the height of the pandemic, Mr Iwuagwu allegedly fabricated employee identities to fraudulently obtain approximately $52,000 in unemployment benefits from the Washington Security Employment Department. The funds, which were intended for legitimate beneficiaries, were reportedly funneled to co-conspirators in a manner designed to obscure their fraudulent origin. Between April 3 and April 8, 2020, Mr Iwuagwu is said to have personally withdrawn and transferred $18,000 from those relief funds into his own account.

This latest arrest marks a continuation of Mr Iwuagwu’s legal troubles, following an earlier arrest by local authorities in January 2024. The new federal charges have now brought him under the FBI’s watch, with the agency aiming to recover the stolen funds.

Mr Iwuagwu’s personal life has also seen turmoil. Court records show that his wife filed for divorce in early 2022, with the marriage officially dissolved later that year. It remains unclear whether his alleged criminal activities played a role in the split.

His arrest adds to the growing list of Nigerians currently facing prosecution in the United States for wire fraud and similar offences. Recent cases include Mercy Ojedeji, a former PhD student arrested for forging academic documents, and Avwerosuo Omokri, whose Binance wallet containing $1.5 million was seized following multiple fraud complaints. The Apetu of Ipetumodu, Oba Joseph Oloyede, was also found in FBI custody last year, accused of fraudulently obtaining $4.2 million in COVID-19 aid. Additionally, Omobolanle Bombata, widely known as Bobo Chicago, is battling charges of corporate email hacking and financial theft.

Mr Iwuagwu now awaits trial as U.S. authorities continue to clamp down on international cybercrime and financial fraud.