By Two Nigerian nationals living in Chicago’s suburbs have been sentenced to a combined 30 years in federal prison for orchestrating sophisticated fraud schemes that netted at least $3.5 million from victims across the United States through romance and inheritance scams.
Anthony Emeka Ibekie, 59, of Oswego, Illinois, received a 20-year sentence Thursday after a federal jury convicted him on all 14 counts, including wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, making false statements to a bank, and passport fraud. His accomplice, Samuel Aniukwu, 50, of Romeoville, Illinois, was sentenced to 10 years on November 8 after pleading guilty to wire fraud and money laundering charges.
Federal prosecutors detailed an elaborate web of deception where the defendants, operating under various aliases, targeted victims through multiple schemes. In the inheritance scam, they convinced victims they had received substantial inheritances but needed to send money to claim them. The romance fraud involved building trust through dating websites and social media before manipulating victims into transferring funds.
“These defendants exploited vulnerable individuals seeking companionship and financial opportunity,” U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger said during sentencing. The schemes also included sophisticated business email compromise attacks targeting corporate accounts.
The investigation, led by undercover law enforcement operatives, revealed how the duo constructed convincing narratives to manipulate their targets. Victims were methodically groomed through online relationships, with the scammers carefully building trust before executing their financial fraud.
A third defendant, Jennifer Gosha, 52, an American citizen from Oak Park, Illinois, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and making false statements to a federal agent. Her sentencing is scheduled for December 18, 2024, marking the final chapter in a case that highlights the growing sophistication of international fraud operations targeting U.S. citizens.
The conviction represents a significant victory for federal authorities combating international fraud schemes, particularly those originating from West Africa. Law enforcement officials note that such schemes have become increasingly sophisticated, often combining romantic manipulation with complex financial fraud narratives.
The case has drawn attention to the vulnerability of Americans to online scams, particularly those targeting older adults through dating sites and social media platforms. Prosecutors presented evidence showing how the defendants maintained multiple fake identities and used elaborate stories about inheritances to convince victims to transfer substantial sums of money.
The sentencing coincides with increased efforts by U.S. law enforcement to crack down on international fraud rings operating within American borders. The Federal Bureau of Investigation reports that romance scams alone resulted in losses exceeding $1 billion annually in recent years, with a significant portion traced to organized criminal networks.
Law enforcement officials emphasize that this case represents only a fraction of ongoing sophisticated fraud operations targeting Americans, particularly through online platforms. The investigation revealed how the defendants utilized multiple bank accounts, shell companies, and cryptocurrency to conceal their activities and transfer fraudulent proceeds.
The Department of Justice has indicated that international cooperation was crucial in building the case, highlighting the global nature of modern financial crimes and the challenges faced by law enforcement in combating cross-border fraud schemes.
