Five Nigerians have received a combined jail term of over 159 years from a United States court for their involvement in a transnational organized crime group that defrauded over 100 Americans, companies, and government entities of approximately $17 million. This information was released in a statement on Wednesday by Ray Combs, the acting US Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas.
The convicted individuals, identified as Damilola Kumapayi, Sandra Iribhogbe, Edgal Iribhogbe, Chidindu Okeke, and Chiagoziem Okeke, began their criminal activities in 2017. They specifically targeted elderly and vulnerable individuals, using various schemes, including online dating sites, to trick victims into handing over their money, in some cases even their life savings.
According to Combs, the defendants meticulously planned how to extract money from their victims and then how to conceal, distribute, and launder the ill-gotten gains. The vast scheme resulted in approximately $17 million being fraudulently obtained from at least 100 victims globally. Once the funds were acquired, the defendants laundered the money through a complex network of bank accounts, sending it to co-conspirators and businesses primarily located in Africa and Asia.
Upon their arrest, the five faced multiple charges including conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering. Damilola Kumapayi, 39, of Plano, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and received a sentence of 109 months in federal prison. Sandra Iribhogbe Popnen, 50, also of Plano, pleaded guilty to both conspiring to commit wire fraud and money laundering, resulting in a 365-month prison sentence.
Edgal Iribhogbe, 51, of Allen, along with Chidindu Okeke, 32, and Chiagoziem Okeke, 32, both of Houston, were found guilty at trial of conspiring to commit wire fraud and conspiring to commit money laundering. Each of these three individuals was sentenced to a substantial 480 months in federal prison.
The US Attorney emphasized that these sentencings are part of America's ongoing commitment to pursuing fraudsters who prey on its citizens, asserting that the nation remains determined to bring such criminals to justice. Combs concluded by stating that the lengthy sentences reflect the serious nature of these crimes and underscore the dedication of law enforcement and prosecutors in achieving justice against transnational organized criminals who target vulnerable populations.
