US sentences two Nigerians to 30 years in federal prison for $3.5m fraud

A federal jury in the United States has sentenced two Nigerian nationals, Anthony Emeka Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu, to 30 years in prison for orchestrating fraud schemes that defrauded victims out of $3.5 million.

The sentencing, announced in a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice, revealed that Ibekie, 59, from Oswego, Illinois, was handed a 20-year sentence on Thursday, while Aniukwu, 50, from Romeoville, Illinois, was sentenced to 10 years on November 8.

According to the Department of Justice, Ibekie and Aniukwu lured victims by claiming they were heirs to substantial inheritances but needed to send money to individuals associated with the defendants in order to claim it.

The duo, Ibekie and Aniukwu, also used fake names to build trust and convince victims to transfer funds.

In addition to the inheritance scam, the duo also carried out an online romance scam that involved communicating with victims via social media and dating websites, building trust with the victims through a purported online romance, and convincing them to send money to a predetermined recipient.

“Aniukwu and Ibekie also orchestrated a “business email compromise” scam that targeted corporate email accounts,” the U.S. Department of Justice revealed.

Both men pleaded guilty to multiple fraud-related charges.

The U.S. Department of Justice also disclosed that “A federal jury earlier this year convicted Ibekie, 59, of Oswego, Ill., on all 14 counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, making false statements to a bank, and passport fraud.”

While Aniukwu pleaded guilty last year to wire fraud and money laundering charges.

The case also implicated a U.S. accomplice, Jennifer Gosha, 52, of Oak Park, Illinois.

Gosha, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud and making false statements to federal agents, is scheduled for sentencing on December 18, 2024.