US Authorities have charged 80 people, most of whom are Nigerian nationals, with indulging in a conspiracy to steal millions of dollars.
The suspects have been accused of using business email fraud schemes and romance scams to con victims, many of whom are elderly.
Police have arrested 14 suspects across the US, 11 in Los Angeles alone. Authorities say it is one of the largest cases of its kind in US history.
READ ALSO:Olamide’s Ex Girlfriend, Maria Okan, Gives Birth To The Singer’s 3rd Child in London
US Attorney Nick Hanna says the FBI investigation is a major step to disrupt criminal networks. He also added that this case is part of their ongoing efforts to protect Americans from faudulent online schemes and to bring to justice those who prey upon American citizens and businesses.
The FBI started probing the case in 2016 in a single bank account but it later reached out to cover multiple victims in the US and around the world.
All the 80 defendants have been charged with conspiracy to commit fraud, conspiracy to launder money, and aggravated identity theft, the US Attorney’s Office in the Central District of California stated in a press release.
The Attorney’s Offices further stated that the suspects managed to obtain $6m in a conspiracy aimed at stealing $46m in the US. The remaining 66 defendants are believed to be in Nigeria.
The indictment claims that the fraudsters used illicit money exchangers to syphon money to Nigeria, generally avoiding transferring the funds directly through major banking institutions. The authorities have also listed a total of 252 charges against the 80 suspects.
They’ve also named all the defendants included in this grand fraud scheme, including one Valentine Iro and Chukwudi Christogunus Igbokwe among others.
This website uses cookies.
Read More