Six Nigerians Currently On-The-Run In U.S For Duping Americans $6m, Two Others Sentenced

The United States has indicted six Nigerians of wire fraud, swindling businesses and individuals of over $6 million in the U.S. According to a statement seen by AllNews, the six Nigerians were involved in sophisticated cybercrimes relating to electronic transfer payments or automated clearinghouse transfers.

The cybercrime was termed Business Email Compromise (BEC) schemes by the FBI. The six Nigerians involved in the wire fraud in Nebraska and other states are Richard Uzuh; Micheal Olorunyomi; Alex Ogunshakin; Felix Okpoh; Abiola Kayode and Nnamdi Benson - all of whom are on the run and identified as fugitives in the US.

According to the indictment charge, the six Nigerians have been charged with one or more of the following violations of federal law: 1) Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud, punishable by up to 20 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000; 2) Identity theft and access device fraud, each punishable by up to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000.

Still Innocent Until Proven Guilty

Although, a US embassy statement seen by AllNews stated that the six Nigerians are still presumed innocent as the indictment is not evidence of guilt, just "a formal accusation returned by a grand jury upon establishing probable cause." However, financial sanction has been imposed on the six individuals.

"Because of the BEC scheme set forth in the unsealed indictments the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) has taken the extraordinary step of imposing financial sanctions on each of the six fugitives.

"As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property held by these individuals and subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and other persons are blocked from engaging in financial transactions with these fugitives."

Other Nigerians Charged

While the six Nigerians are still on the running, evading arrest, two other Nigerians, Adewale Aniyeloye and Onome Ijomone have pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud respectively, and have been sentenced to different jail terms.

"Two related defendants have entered pleas of guilty. Adewale Aniyeloye was sentenced in the District of Nebraska to 96 months in prison for wire fraud. Onome Ijomone received a 60-month sentence for conspiracy to commit wire fraud." the US Embassy statement reads.

The wire fraud cases were supported by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Federal Ministry of Justice, and the National Central Bureau, Abuja – INTERPOL (Nigeria Police Force).