US sentences two Nigerians to 30 years in federal prison for $3.5 million fraud | The Guardian Nigeria News

A federal jury in the US sentenced two Nigerian nationals, Anthony Emeka Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu, to 30 years in prison for orchestrating fraud schemes that defrauded victims of $3.5 million.

The sentencing, announced in a press release by the U.S. Department of Justice, was revealed Thursday that Ibekie, 59, of Oswego, Illinois, was sentenced to 20 years in prison, while Aniukwu, 50, of Romeoville, Illinois, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. year 8 November.

According to the Department of Justice, Ibekie and Aniukwu deceived victims by claiming that they were inheritors of significant inheritances but that they needed to send money to people associated with the defendants to claim it.

The duo, Ibekie and Aniukwu, also used fake names to establish trust and persuade victims to transfer money.

As well as the inheritance scam, the duo also carried out an online romance scam, which involved contacting victims via social media and dating sites, establishing trust with victims through so-called online romance, and persuading them to send money to a pre-determined recipient.

“Aniukwu and Ibekie also ran a “business email breach” scam targeting corporate email accounts, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

Both men pleaded guilty to multiple fraud-related charges.

The U.S. Department of Justice also announced: “Earlier this year, a federal jury found Ibekie, 59, of Oswego, Illinois, guilty of 14 counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, making false statements to a bank and passport fraud. .”

Aniukwu pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering charges last year.

The case also involved US accomplice Jennifer Gosha, 52, of Oak Park, Illinois.

Gosha, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud and making false statements to federal agents, is scheduled to be sentenced on December 18, 2024.