Seven Nigerian men have been charged by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy for their involvement in romance scams. Acting as middlemen, they allegedly received $8 million in proceeds from victims of Nigerian Internet fraudsters commonly known as Yahoo Boys.
According to U.S. prosecutors, the defendants collaborated with fraudsters based in Nigeria between March 2018 and June 2019 to perpetrate romance scams targeting vulnerable individuals across America, particularly lonely citizens susceptible to such schemes. Utilizing fictitious attractive personas online, the scammers initiated romantic relationships with unsuspecting victims and then exploited them by fabricating financial emergencies, such as fictitious medical ailments.
The accused individuals include Bolanle Christina Odeyale (39), Oghenemine Jeffrey Agbroko (34), Charles Owhonigho Emurotu (40), Jimmy Iwezu (44), Lori Tsoritse (38), Rukevwe Solomon Ologban (44), and Christopher Onyedikachi Okereke (38). A grand jury indicted them on February 14 following an FBI investigation that revealed numerous elderly citizens had been defrauded of their life savings.
According to the indictment, the defendants collaborated with “Utah Money Transmitters” to facilitate the transfer of fraudulent funds outside the U.S. The U.S. attorney’s office stated that the defendants either assisted the money transmitters in sourcing opportunities to work with Yahoo Boys or aided in transferring fraud proceeds from the District of Utah to other stations abroad or within the United States.
The accused allegedly opened new U.S. bank accounts to receive proceeds from victims, took a portion of the fraudulently obtained funds, and then forwarded the remaining balance to the Yahoo Boys in Nigeria. The attorney’s office emphasized that by operating in the District of Utah and opening accounts at U.S. financial institutions, the defendants aimed to conceal the ultimate destination of the funds and the identities of the Yahoo Boys involved in the scams.
