U.S. Court Jails Nigerian 15 Years For $1.5m Fraud

A United States court has sentenced a Nigerian national, Saheed Owolabi, to 15 years in prison for defrauding victims and laundering about $1.5 million.

The sentence was handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard Myers II, according to a statement released by the US Department of Justice.

Owolabi was found to have posed as a woman online to build relationships with male victims in the United States, deceiving them into sending money and sensitive personal information.

Investigators said he also used bank accounts provided by victims to facilitate the movement of illicit funds linked to other fraudulent operations.

The statement noted: “Inmate Owolabi and others used bank accounts provided by the victims to launder money from other fraudulent operations and stole more than $120,000 from a victim in the EDNC, among many other victims.”

Following his arrest, Owolabi was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Explaining the sentence, the statement added: “In sentencing Inmate Owolabi to 15 years in prison, Chief Judge Myers determined that Inmate Owolabi was a leader or organiser within an extensive organisation, engaged in sophisticated money laundering, and caused substantial financial hardship to victims through his schemes.”

Prosecutors also presented evidence showing how proceeds of the fraud were spent.

“At sentencing, the prosecution highlighted images discovered on Inmate Owolabi’s phone at the time of his arrest, showing how he lavishly spent the stolen money,” the statement said.

Reacting to the conviction, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Anthony Boyle, condemned the rise in fraud schemes targeting Americans.

“Who hasn’t suffered some form of the ‘Nigerian Prince’ schemes? Inmate Owolabi, no prince, stole from our vulnerable citizens.

“This case shows that if you try to defraud the citizens of the Eastern District of North Carolina, our office will bring you to justice no matter where you are. Cheaters never win,” he said.

The case adds to a growing number of fraud-related convictions involving Nigerians in the United States.

In a related development, U.S. authorities have also announced plans to deport another Nigerian national, Ayobami Omoniyi, after he completes a 32-month prison sentence for his role in a $202,000 money laundering scheme linked to business email compromise fraud.