Two Nigerian nationals sentenced in the US over $2m internet fraud scam
By DL News
Published
1 min read
“Beginning in 2016 through May 2021, Olumide Obidare, 29, and Stephen Oseghale, 29, conspired with each other to use fictitious and stolen identities to engage in business email compromise (BEC) fraud schemes."
Two Nigerian nationals, Olumide Obidare and Stephen Oseghale were on Monday sentenced to prison by US authorities for stealing more than $2 million from victims through business email compromise and romance fraud schemes that span a 5-year period.
A statement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota said Olumide Obidare who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft on March 14, 2022, was sentenced to 132 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Stephen Oseghale, said to have been sentenced earlier on August 16, 2022, was also handed an 80 months jail term followed by three years of supervised release.
“According to court documents, beginning in 2016 through May 2021, Olumide Obidare, 29, and Stephen Oseghale, 29, conspired with each other to use fictitious and stolen identities to engage in business email compromise (BEC) fraud schemes and pursue fraudulent romantic relationships online.
As part of the scheme, the defendants obtained false identification documents, including passports and driver’s licenses, and used them to open bank accounts at various banks throughout the United States US Attorney Andrew M. Luger said.
Both have also been ordered to pay restitution of $1,955,507.53 and $453,889.27 respectively.
