WASHINGTON (BN24) — A United States federal court has sentenced five Nigerian nationals to a total of 159 years in prison after convicting them in a sweeping $17 million international fraud scheme that targeted over 100 individuals, corporations, and government agencies. The U.S. Department of Justice revealed the details Wednesday in an official statement issued by Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas, Ray Combs.
The convicted individuals—Damilola Kumapayi, Sandra Iribhogbe, Edgal Iribhogbe, Chidindu Okeke, and Chiagoziem Okeke—were identified as members of a transnational organized criminal group that began operating the scheme in 2017. Authorities said the defendants exploited elderly and vulnerable victims across the globe by executing elaborate romance scams, business email compromise attacks, and financial deceptions. Once they extracted money from victims, they laundered it through a complex network of bank accounts and transferred the funds to co-conspirators and companies in Africa and Asia.
According to Combs, the group strategically coordinated how to defraud their victims and then conceal the stolen money, siphoning off millions that in some cases represented the life savings of their targets. The operation spanned years and relied on sophisticated digital tactics and false identities to maintain the illusion of legitimacy.
The U.S. District Court found all five defendants guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. Upon conviction, they were handed prison terms that reflected the severity of their crimes. Kumapayi was sentenced to over nine years in federal prison. Sandra Iribhogbe, who pleaded guilty to multiple conspiracy charges, received more than 30 years. Her husband, Edgal Iribhogbe, along with Chidindu Okeke and Chiagoziem Okeke, were each sentenced to 40 years after being convicted at trial.
The Justice Department emphasized that the scheme not only victimized ordinary citizens but also infiltrated businesses and government agencies. Many of the victims were elderly Americans, who were lured through emotional manipulation and false online relationships, leaving some financially ruined.
Federal authorities have renewed their warning to transnational criminal networks that such crimes will not go unpunished. Combs called the sentencing a powerful signal that the United States remains committed to prosecuting cyber-enabled financial crimes, regardless of where the perpetrators are based. He added that justice had been served for the victims whose lives were upended by the defendants’ greed and deception.
The convictions and lengthy prison terms represent one of the most significant federal crackdowns on Nigerian-based fraud networks in recent years, as U.S. law enforcement continues to ramp up operations to combat internet scams and financial exploitation of vulnerable populations.
