U.S. Begins Trial of Extradited Nigerian Fraudster Olamide Shanu Over $2 Million Sextortion

The United States has begun the prosecution of Lagos-based internet fraudster Olamide Shanu, who was extradited from the United Kingdom to face charges linked to a multimillion-dollar sextortion and wire fraud scheme.

In a statement on Thursday, the Department of Justice said Shanu, 34, made his initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Debora K. Grasham after his extradition. He is facing an eight-count indictment that includes wire fraud conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, conspiracy to commit extortion, money laundering conspiracy, interstate communications with intent to extort, and cyberstalking.

Prosecutors allege that Shanu and his conspirators posed as women on social media to deceive victims—mostly men—into sharing sexually explicit images. The group then threatened to circulate the images to friends and family members unless victims paid money. The Department of Justice said one of the victims was a college student in Idaho.

According to the indictment, the scheme generated at least $2 million, which Shanu allegedly laundered through peer-to-peer payment apps and cryptocurrency wallets before funneling proceeds to co-conspirators in Nigeria. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison in addition to restitution payments to victims.

Court filings also show that in 2023 the U.S. Secret Service seized Shanu’s Binance account, which investigators said was tied to a $2.5 million fraud and sextortion ring.