A Nigerian man, Chukwunonso Obiora, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for his involvement in money laundering and passport fraud conspiracies. United States District Judge Indira Talwani also ordered Obiora to pay over $3.3 million in restitution and forfeiture. Following his guilty plea in June 2024, Obiora was charged with one count of passport fraud conspiracy and one count of money laundering conspiracy.
Obiora was arrested in Atlanta, Georgia, in October 2023 after a criminal complaint and subsequently indicted in January 2024. His activities between March 2021 and May 2023 included orchestrating schemes that involved business email compromises (BECs). These schemes target companies through fraudulent emails impersonating trusted entities to divert funds into accounts controlled by the perpetrators.
As a leader and organizer of the money laundering operation, Obiora admitted to acquiring victims' identification details to create false identities, incorporating businesses, and opening bank accounts under those names. The proceeds from BEC schemes were quickly withdrawn from these accounts before the victimized companies realized they had been deceived. The funds were then transferred to other locations including Nigeria and China.
Efforts were made by Obiora and his co-conspirators to disguise the conspiracy's existence through forged business invoices and false statements to banks regarding the nature of the deposited funds. At least $6.5 million was transacted through these fraudulent activities over two years.
Additionally, after being removed from the U.S. by immigration authorities in December 2021, Obiora conspired with an American relative to obtain a U.S. passport under false pretenses. This passport facilitated his illegal re-entry into the United States from Nigeria via Detroit in October 2023.
The announcement of Obiora's sentencing was made by United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy along with Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations New England. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth B. Kosto with support from various agencies including the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service.