Chisom Okonkwo, a 28-year-old resident of Lawrenceville, Georgia, has confessed to wire fraud that led a business in Gilmer County to transfer over $1 million through fraudulent wires. The scheme involved a business email compromise where Okonkwo and another defendant created an email address mimicking that of an employee at the targeted business. This deception resulted in a vendor sending substantial funds to an account controlled by the defendants.
Court documents reveal that more than $600,000 of the stolen money was spent before authorities uncovered the scheme. The co-defendant, Prince Boateng Adjei, aged 31 and also from Lawrenceville, is set for trial in April 2025.
As part of her plea agreement, Okonkwo has agreed to pay restitution amounting to $610,146.03. She could face up to 20 years in prison depending on the sentencing decision made by a federal district court judge who will consider U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas with the investigation conducted by the United States Secret Service. Proceedings were overseen by U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi.