A Nigerian, Okechukwu Iwuji, alongside two others, has been convicted and jailed for advance fee and money laundering scheme involving over $2m.
An attorney from the US Attorney’s Office, Guam, Shawn Anderson, announced that 38-year-old Iwuji and the other convicts fraudulently obtained approximately $2,600,000 by inducing Guam-based investors to pay bogus fees for a multimillion-dollar inheritance.
The other convicts are Sally Roberto, 56, from Santa Rita; Monique Jones, 49, from Dallas, Texas.
They were on Tuesday and Thursday sentenced for their crimes.
Iwuji, a Nigerian citizen, who previously resided in Orlando, Florida, was sentenced to 45 months imprisonment; three years supervised release, ordered to pay $475,710 in restitution, a $100 mandatory assessment fee, and a $475,710 forfeiture money judgment, after previously pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
“This far-ranging conspiracy preyed on 60 victims, nearly all of whom live in Guam,” Anderson said in a statement published by the US Attorney Office.
“These scams are difficult to investigate and prosecute due to the interstate and transnational nature of the criminal activity. Our success in this matter is the result of a team effort across multiple jurisdictions, with outstanding leadership by prosecutor David. We will continue to pursue the collection of restitution for those harmed by the defendant’s conduct. The public must remain vigilant against this type of fraud,” Anderson added.
-Punch
