- Nigerian Green Card Holder Jailed in US Over Fraud Scheme
- Sentence to 2 Years, 6 Months
- Authorities noted that he admitted to receiving victims’ funds and transferring them to other members of the scheme for a fee
A U.S.-based Nigerian, Ayobami Omoniyi, has been sentenced to 2 years and 6 months (32 months) in prison for his role in a multimillion-dollar wire fraud operation.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the sentencing was handed down by U.S. District Judge Andrew S. Hanen after Omoniyi pleaded guilty to laundering fraud proceeds through an unlicensed money transmitting business.
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According to the United States Department of Justice, the 26-year-old, who held a Green Card, was involved in moving illicit funds tied to a business email compromise scheme.
Court proceedings revealed that Omoniyi acted as a recruiter and helped facilitate the movement of money through multiple bank accounts. Victims, including a fishing company in Australia, were deceived through spoofed emails that appeared to come from legitimate businesses, prompting them to transfer funds to accounts controlled by the fraud network.
As part of his sentence, Omoniyi was also ordered to pay $202,273.80 in restitution. He is expected to be deported from the United States after completing his prison term.
Authorities noted that he admitted to receiving victims’ funds and transferring them to other members of the scheme for a fee, highlighting the structured nature of the fraud operation.
