Internet fraud: Fake Tom Cruise bags 3-year jail term in Benin

A 22-year-old man Raymond Imozemhe has been sentenced to three years imprisonment for impersonating popular Hollywood star Tom Cruise.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a statement said Imozemhe and six others were convicted on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, by Justice Efe Ikponwonba of the Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City for internet fraud.

The others are Christian Okafor, Jimmy Emmanuel, Oritseweyinmi Allen Poto, Osapamwan Destiny Gaius and David Oghneyerivwo Ighere.

The charge against Imozemhe reads: “That you, Raymond Imozemhe (m) sometime in 2023 at Ugbor Central GRA, Benin City, Edo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court with intent to defraud falsely represent yourself to be one Tom Cruise, Hollywood celebrity from the United States of America, in your Scrabble Game account and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 384(1) of the Criminal Law of Edo State Law, 2022.”

Imozemhe and the other defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges prompting prosecution counsel, Salihu Ahmed, A.S. Bala-Ribah and Al-Amin Abdul Ibrahim to pray the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

However, counsel to the defendants pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendants were first-time offenders.

Justice Ikponmwonba convicted and sentenced Imozemhe, Okafor and Emmanuel to three years imprisonment with an option of N200,000 fine.

Poto bagged three years imprisonment or a fine of Three Hundred Thousand Naira while Ighere bagged two years imprisonment with an option of N200,000 fine.

The judge also ordered that the defendants forfeit a Mercedes Benz GLK 350, Lexus ES 350, one black Toyota Camry, mobile phones and a UBA draft of N960,000 being proceeds of crime, to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The defendants are to undertake in writing to be of good behaviour afterwards.