James Aliyu, a 29-year-old foreign national, has been extradited from South Africa to the United States to face federal charges in connection with a $6-million business email compromise (BEC) scheme. Aliyu is the last of three defendants charged in this case.
A federal grand jury indicted Aliyu along with Kosi Goodness Simon-Ebo, 30, and Henry Onyedikachi Echefu, 31, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. The indictment alleges that the BEC scheme resulted in losses exceeding $6 million. All three defendants are Nigerian citizens who were residing in South Africa during the time of the alleged crimes.
The indictment was returned on June 24, 2019, and was unsealed on July 6, 2022, following their arrests outside the U.S. "Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland," announced these charges alongside "Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris" from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore.
According to court documents, between February 2016 and July 2017, the defendants allegedly conspired with others to carry out a BEC scheme by gaining unauthorized access to email accounts of individuals and businesses. They purportedly sent spoofed emails containing false wiring instructions to deceive victims into transferring funds into accounts controlled by the perpetrators.
Additionally, it is alleged that they conspired to launder money by disbursing fraudulently obtained funds through various means such as account transfers and cashier's checks. Simon-Ebo faces specific charges for wiring over $6 million collected from victims to conspirators' accounts.
Simon-Ebo and Echefu were previously extradited from Canada; both pled guilty and have been sentenced.
If convicted on all counts, Aliyu could face up to 20 years in federal prison for each charge related to wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering. However, actual sentences are typically less than maximum penalties; a judge will determine any sentence after considering various guidelines.
It is important to note that an indictment is not proof of guilt; those charged are presumed innocent until proven otherwise in court proceedings.
U.S. Attorney Barron acknowledged HSI’s Mid-Atlantic El Dorado Task Force for its role in this investigation. He also expressed gratitude towards South African authorities and other international agencies for their assistance in securing extraditions related to this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes is prosecuting the case.
For more information about initiatives by the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office or available community resources visit their website at www.justice.gov/usao-md or www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.