Two Nigerians Sentenced to 30 Years in US Prison for $3.5 Million Fraud Scheme

Two Nigerians residing in the United States, Anthony Emeka Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu, have been sentenced to a combined 30 years in federal prison for defrauding American citizens of $3.5 million. The sentencing follows an undercover investigation by U.S. law enforcement that exposed their involvement in online scams, including inheritance and romance fraud schemes.

According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice, Ibekie and Aniukwu used aliases to deceive victims into believing they had received substantial inheritances requiring payment of fees to claim. Victims were persuaded to send money, with promises of reimbursement once the inheritance was purportedly secured. Additionally, the pair carried out romance scams, building trust with individuals through online relationships and then soliciting funds under false pretenses.

Their schemes also included a “business email compromise” fraud targeting corporate email accounts. Collectively, these scams caused financial losses amounting to at least $3.5 million.

The investigation led to a federal indictment on 14 counts, including wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and passport fraud. Ibekie, 59, of Oswego, Illinois, was found guilty on all charges earlier this year and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Aniukwu, 50, of Romeoville, Illinois, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering last year and received a 10-year sentence on November 8.

U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger presided over the cases, handing down the sentences.

A third accomplice, Jennifer Gosha, a 52-year-old U.S. citizen from Oak Park, Illinois, pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and making false statements to federal agents. Gosha is scheduled for sentencing on December 18, 2024.

The Department of Justice emphasized the significance of the investigation in dismantling the elaborate fraud network and securing justice for the victims.