Okechuckwu Valentine Osuji, a 39-year-old Nigerian national, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for orchestrating a business email compromise scheme across multiple countries, including the United States. The sentencing took place in New Haven, Connecticut.
Court documents and statements revealed that Osuji and his associates impersonated trustworthy entities through electronic communications to defraud individuals and businesses. They employed both witting and unwitting "money mules" to receive fraudulent proceeds in their bank accounts. These funds were then transferred to accounts controlled by the conspirators or converted into cash for further transfer. Victims of this scheme included a financial company from Connecticut, a lending company from Colorado, a nonprofit performing arts organization from Alaska, and a food and beverage company from New York.
The scheme also involved exploiting elderly individuals through romance scams. One victim testified that she was deceived into sending her savings and income to someone she believed was her romantic partner but was actually one of Osuji's co-conspirators. This led to the depletion of her life savings, bankruptcy, repossession of her house, and use of her bank account in the fraud against one targeted company.
Osuji was arrested in Malaysia and extradited to the U.S. in 2022. On May 1, 2024, he was found guilty by a jury in New Haven of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The total losses and intended losses amounted to over $6 million. At his sentencing hearing, he was ordered to pay restitution to his victims.
One alleged co-conspirator, John Wamuigah, remains in Malaysia awaiting extradition proceedings. An indictment is an allegation; Wamuigah is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
Another co-conspirator, Tolulope Bodunde from Nigeria, pleaded guilty and received a two-year prison sentence on October 16.
The announcement was made by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri; U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery for the District of Connecticut; and Special Agent Robert Fuller of the FBI New Haven Field Office.
The case investigation involved the FBI New Haven Field Office and Stamford Police Department with assistance from various international agencies for Osuji's arrest and extradition.
Trial Attorney Lydia Lichlyter from the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel are prosecuting the case.
For more information on business email compromise scams visit www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/business-email-compromise or www.ic3.gov/CrimeInfo/BEC.