Fraudster bags one-year imprisonment for defrauding American $20,000

A fraudster Joshua Femi has been sentenced to one year imprisonment for defrauding an American, Sheedy Morgan, the sum of $20,000

The Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) secured the conviction on November 9, 2023.

Femi was jailed by Justice O.O. Abike Fadipe of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on two-count charges bordering on impersonation, obtaining under false pretense and money laundering.

The defendant pleaded guilty to the charges against him.

Following his guilty plea, prosecution counsel, S.I Sulaiman, told the court that the defendant was arrested sometime in September 2023, at Bana Hotel, Olodi Apapa, Lagos State, following credible intelligence received by the Commission.

According to him, an iPhone 11, iPhone 14 and Mercedes Benz’s ML350 4matic were recovered from him at the point of arrest.

Sulaiman further tendered in evidence, the defendant’s extrajudicial statements, IPhone 11 and IPhone 14, Mercedes Benz, forensic investigation documents print out and digital assets.

Justice Fadipe, consequently, convicted and sentenced the defendant to one year imprisonment, with an option of fine of N1,000,000.

The convict’s mobile phones and Mercedes Benz were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The Judge also ordered that the digital assets recovered from the victim be forfeited and returned to the victim.