A 45-year-old Nigerian, Okeoghene Patrick Udugba, residing in Frisco, Texas, has been indicted by a US federal grand jury over his alleged involvement in a romance scam and business email compromise scheme that prosecutors say defrauded a US government agency of more than $300,000.
The indictment, announced by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, charges Udugba with money laundering and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud.
According to US Attorney Brian D. Miller, Udugba and his alleged co-conspirators orchestrated overlapping romance and business email compromise schemes targeting victims in multiple US states.
Prosecutors alleged that the suspects used social media platforms and dating websites to establish fake romantic relationships with victims before grooming them into serving as money mules. The victims allegedly received and cashed fraudulently obtained cheques on behalf of the syndicate.
Authorities further alleged that members of the conspiracy sent emails from spoofed addresses in Nigeria while posing as representatives of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).
