FBI To ‘Locate Cyber Criminals In Nigeria’ As Obinwanne Bags 10 Years For $11m Fraud

Nigerian businessman, Obinwanne Okeke, who was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) at the Dulles International Airport, United States in August 2019, has been sentenced to a ten-year jail term over a $11 million “global fraud scheme”.

The FBI, reacting to Tuesday’s sentencing by a Court in Virginia, vowed to continue clamping down on those engaging in cyber crimes, no matter which part of the globe they are.

“The FBI will not allow cyber criminals free reign in the digital world to prey on U.S. companies.

“This sentencing demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to working with our partners at the Department of Justice and our foreign counterparts to locate cyber criminals across the globe and bring them to the United States to be held accountable,” the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, Brian Dugan said.

The U.S. Justice Department, in a press release published on its website on Tuesday, stated that the court was able to establish that the Nigerian was involved in a computer-based intrusion fraud scheme that constituted financial “losses to his victims”.

The Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Raj Parekh, noted that the Justice department will keep protecting the businesses of Americans.

“Through subterfuge and impersonation, Obinwanne Okeke engaged in a multi-year global business email and computer hacking scheme that caused a staggering $11 million in losses to his victims.

“Today’s sentence further demonstrates EDVA’s and FBI’s worldwide reach in vigorously pursuing justice on behalf of American victims and others and holding international cybercriminals accountable, no matter where they commit their crimes,” he said.

THE WHISTLER reported that Okeke had pleaded guilty to the charges bordering on “conspiracy to commit wire fraud,” which was accepted U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert J. Krask.