US-based Nigerian faces 30 years for $300,000 fraud in romance scam

A Nigerian national living in the United States, Okeoghene Patrick Udugba, is confronting a potential 30-year prison sentence following a federal grand jury indictment. He is accused of participating in a sophisticated romance and business email compromise scheme that allegedly defrauded a U.S. government agency of more than $300,000.

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Udugba and others utilised social media and dating websites to meet and establish purported romantic relationships with persons in multiple states. Those persons were groomed and ultimately used by Udugba and others as money mules to receive and cash fraudulently obtained checks.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced the indictment, which includes charges of money laundering and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud. According to U.S. Attorney Brian Miller, Udugba and his alleged accomplices targeted victims through social media and dating websites. They allegedly lured individuals into fake romantic relationships, grooming them to act as "money mules" to receive and cash fraudulent checks.

Prosecutors claim the syndicate also impersonated officials from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service using spoofed email addresses originating from Nigeria. These fraudulent emails directed the agency's grant administrator to pay fabricated invoices, resulting in the disbursement of over $300,000. Miller stated that conviction could lead to a maximum of 30 years imprisonment, followed by supervised release and a fine.

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Members of the conspiracy sent emails from ‘spoofed’ addresses in Nigeria, claiming to be representatives of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. The spoofed emails directed that FWS grant funds be used to pay fabricated invoices, which falsely represented that the money mules were contractors and consultants of FWS who had performed work on grant-eligible projects.

The Attorney's Office, however, stressed that the indictment represents allegations, and all individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This case follows a report of another U.S.-based Nigerian, Ifeanyi Ugwu, facing a potential five-year sentence for operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business involving millions of dollars.

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The indictments and criminal information are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.