Nigerian Man Sentenced to 2 Years in U.S. Prison for $300K Romance Scam

Badetito Obafemi, a 42-year-old Nigerian national based in Georgia, has been sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for his role in a romance scam that defrauded victims of over $300,000. U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips handed down the sentence, which also includes three years of supervised release and an order to pay $311,520 in restitution to his victims.

Obafemi’s sentencing comes nearly a year after he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to court records, he admitted to operating fake online relationships to exploit emotionally vulnerable individuals, convincing them to send money for fabricated business ventures, medical emergencies, travel expenses, and food.

The fraudulent scheme, which ran between June 2016 and at least March 2018, involved multiple conspirators and bank accounts. Obafemi coordinated the wire transfers, provided banking details, and ensured the movement of funds through various accounts. Investigators found that Obafemi received approximately $311,520 through personal and business accounts linked to two companies: EasyTickets, LLC, and Goeasy Logistics, LLC.

One of the scams involved a victim from Taney County, New Jersey, who was lured via a fake social media profile under the name “Kevin Condon.” In May 2016, the victim transferred $27,460 to an account controlled by Obafemi. He later attempted to deceive the same individual into wiring an additional $40,000 by falsely claiming he needed the money to secure his release from a South African jail. That attempt was unsuccessful.

The case highlights a persistent trend of romance scams targeting victims across the U.S., with authorities continuing to crack down on perpetrators like Obafemi who exploit trust for financial gain.