JUST IN: Another Nigerian Lands In FBI Custody Over Internet Fraud

Macpherson Osemwegie, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud before U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper, who scheduled sentencing for January 27, 2022. Osemwegie was charged on July 26, 2021.

Osemwegie conspired with others to participate in a series of romance and other online scams designed to defraud victims into sending money to accounts and debit cards that Osemwegie and others controlled.

Romance scams occur when a criminal adopts a fake online identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust.

According to Peoples Gazette, the scammer then uses the illusion of a romantic or close relationship to manipulate and/or steal from the victim.

To carry out the schemes, Osemwegie and his co-conspirators used false foreign passports in others’ names to open numerous bank accounts, and in turn directed the victims to send money to these accounts.

The charge of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, a fine of up to $1 million or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, restitution and forfeiture.

Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

READ ALSO: FBI Arrests Nigerian Doctor, Nwaokwu, For Multi-Million Dollar Fraud

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Joshua McCallister, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Jonathan Davidson, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service made the announcement.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara Miron Bloom and Ian Stearns of Mendell’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.

Recall that a self-confessed Nigerian internet fraudster, Abas Ramon also known as Hushpuppi is also in detention in U.S. following his involvement in multi-million dollar fraud.

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