CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (BN24)— Two Nigerian-born men, Olumide Olorunfunmi, 40, and Emmanuel Unuigbe, 43, were sentenced to 30 months in prison each on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, for their roles in laundering more than $4.5 million in proceeds from a series of fraudulent schemes that primarily targeted elderly victims. The men were sentenced in the Western District of North Carolina and will serve three years of supervised release following their prison terms.
In addition to the prison sentences, both Olorunfunmi and Unuigbe were ordered to pay restitution of over $4.6 million, representing the amount of criminal proceeds they were found to have laundered through various illegal activities. U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina, Russ Ferguson, announced the sentences in a press release issued by the Department of Justice.
The case stems from a complex international fraud operation in which Olorunfunmi and Unuigbe, along with others, facilitated the laundering of funds derived from business email compromise (BEC) scams and romance scams, which specifically targeted elderly individuals. These scams are known for manipulating victims into sending money under pretenses, often promising romantic relationships or business opportunities.
Court documents revealed that from 2020 to 2023, the two men conspired with others to direct victims to transfer funds into bank accounts that they controlled, both within the United States and internationally. Once the funds were received, Olorunfunmi and Unuigbe would transfer the proceeds to additional bank accounts, dispersing the criminal funds across various countries, including the U.S. and Nigeria.
The fraud schemes impacted over 125 victims, with a total of more than $4.5 million being funneled through the criminal operation. Olorunfunmi and Unuigbe profited by retaining a portion of the illicit funds for themselves. In addition, they were involved in a black-market exchange system, where they arranged for Nigerian Naira to be transferred from accounts controlled by their co-conspirators in Nigeria to other accounts, facilitating the exchange of U.S. dollars to Nigerian currency at a favorable exchange rate.
Both men had previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme, acknowledging their involvement in laundering the criminal proceeds. Alongside them, a third individual, Samson Amos, was also sentenced on Tuesday for his part in the operation. Amos, who helped facilitate the unlicensed money transmission aspect of the scheme, was sentenced to five years of probation, which includes six months of home confinement, and was also ordered to pay restitution.
Ferguson praised the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in investigating the case and bringing the defendants to justice. “The investigation and prosecution of these fraudsters was critical in dismantling their criminal network and ensuring accountability for their crimes,” Ferguson said.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Ryan from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, who commended the significant cooperation between U.S. law enforcement and international agencies in pursuing justice for the victims of this complex money laundering operation.
The sentencing serves as a reminder of the ongoing threat of fraud schemes that target vulnerable populations, particularly elderly individuals, and underscores the importance of continued vigilance and law enforcement action to combat such crimes.
