by Two Nigerians living in the United States, Anthony Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu, have been sentenced to a combined 30 years in prison for defrauding American citizens of $3.5 million.
How the Scam Worked
Ibekie and Aniukwu tricked their victims by claiming they had large inheritances that needed some money to be claimed. They convinced their victims to send money with the promise of repayment once the inheritances were secured.
In addition to this inheritance scam, they also engaged in romance scams. They formed fake romantic relationships with their victims through social media and dating websites. After gaining their trust, they persuaded their victims to send them money.
Undercover Investigation
An undercover investigation led to their capture and conviction. Both men communicated with victims using aliases, claiming they needed money to access supposed inheritances. They also ran a business email compromise scam that targeted corporate email accounts.
The total losses from their scams amounted to at least $3.5 million.
Sentencing Details
Ibekie, 59, from Oswego, Illinois, was convicted on 14 counts, including wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, making false statements to a bank, and passport fraud. He received a 20-year prison sentence. Aniukwu, 50, from Romeoville, Illinois, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering charges and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Accomplice to be Sentenced
Jennifer Gosha, a 52-year-old U.S. citizen and accomplice, is set to be sentenced on December 18. She has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and making false statements to a federal agent.
This case highlights the severe penalties for those involved in fraudulent schemes and the importance of ongoing vigilance to protect against such scams.
