US Court Sentences Nigerian Man to 17 Months in Prison for Role in $3 Million Romance Scam Scheme

A U.S. federal court has sentenced Kingsley Ibhadore, a Nigerian citizen based in Phoenix, Arizona, to 17 months in prison for his involvement in laundering nearly \$3 million obtained from online romance scams. The sentencing took place on Monday, May 5, 2025, at the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, following his guilty plea to conspiracy charges in May 2024.

Investigators revealed that Ibhadore played a central role in the scam operation, which ran from 2018 to 2019 and targeted victims through deceptive online relationships. According to the U.S. Secret Service, he used several aliases—such as Barry Bhoye, Celestin Cheick, Simone Diakite, and Celestin Emmanuel—to create fake identities and open 24 bank accounts across major U.S. banks, including Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo, and BBVA Compass.

Authorities said Ibhadore deposited fraudulent checks, some exceeding \$100,000, into these accounts. He then withdrew the funds or transferred them to foreign accounts in Turkey and Nigeria. Law enforcement officials described the operation as part of a wider international fraud network.

The case gained public attention after a FOX 10 investigation in 2023, which led to Ibhadore’s indictment. U.S. Secret Service Acting Special Agent in Charge, Scott Windish, emphasized the significance of the financial operation during the initial probe, pointing to its complex and far-reaching nature.