By An American businessman, Marco Antonio Ramirez, has been sentenced to 74 years in prison by a Lagos State Special Offences Court for orchestrating a $1.2 million visa scam and an additional $368,698.24 fraud, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced Tuesday.
Justice Mojisola Dada handed down the sentence after finding Ramirez guilty on two separate consolidated charges brought by the EFCC. The court ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
“The convict dishonestly converted the money meant for investments to his personal use,” Justice Dada stated in her judgment. “The prosecution has successfully proved that the promises made to the victims were false, and the funds obtained were under fraudulent pretences.”
The EFCC said Ramirez and his companies — USA Now LLC, Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP, and USA Now Energy Capital Group LP — obtained the money from victims by promising access to the Employment-Based Fifth Preference (EB-5) United States of America Investor Programme. This program purportedly would have qualified them for U.S. Green Cards and permanent residency.
On the first charge, Ramirez received eight-year sentences each on counts one to six, and 10-year sentences each on counts seven and eight. The second charge resulted in 10-year sentences each on counts one to 12 for obtaining money by false pretense, and 10-year sentences each on counts 13 to 16 for stealing.
The fraud primarily took place in 2013. One victim, Godson Echegile, lost $545,000 to Ramirez under the false pretext that it was a processing fee for his investment to qualify for a U.S. Green Card through the EB-5 program.
In a separate case within the same judgment, Ramirez was found guilty of defrauding another victim, Gabriel Ogie Edeoghon, of $250,000 on July 26, 2013. Ramirez falsely claimed this money was for an investment in the USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, which would make Edeoghon eligible for a U.S. Green Card.
Ramirez’s legal troubles began when he was initially arraigned on 12 counts of fraud, to which he pleaded not guilty. The EFCC later amended the charges, and Ramirez was re-arraigned on 16 counts on June 24, 2022.
During the trial, EFCC counsel M.S. Owede, assisted by Samuel Daji, presented documentary evidence and called witnesses to prove the allegations. The defense counsel, Lawal Pedro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, cross-examined the witnesses.
The case experienced several adjournments before counsel adopted their final addresses on May 8, 2024. Justice Dada then adjourned for judgment, which was delivered on Tuesday.
This landmark case highlights ongoing efforts by Nigerian authorities to combat international fraud schemes, particularly those targeting aspiring immigrants. It also serves as a cautionary tale about the risks associated with investment-for-visa programs and the importance of due diligence in international financial transactions.
The EFCC’s successful prosecution of this high-profile case may bolster Nigeria’s reputation in fighting cross-border financial crimes and serve as a deterrent to potential fraudsters targeting vulnerable individuals seeking immigration opportunities.
Punchng.com
