In a case highlighting the dangers of online fraud, the U.S. Department of Justice has announced the sentencing of a Nigerian-born man, Edwin Okoronkwo, to 75 months in federal prison for orchestrating a sophisticated catfishing scheme that defrauded multiple American victims of over $342,000.
Okoronkwo, a 36-year-old lawful permanent resident of the United States, was convicted of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. His wife, Julie Okoronkwo, was also sentenced to 25 months imprisonment for her role in the criminal operation.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the couple used “catfishing” tactics to impersonate high-ranking members of the U.S. military and convince victims nationwide to send them money through various digital payment platforms, including PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, and Cash App.
The Okoronkwos utilized stolen personal identifying information to open fraudulent bank accounts and financial service accounts, directing victims to send money to these platforms. They would then transfer the funds into their personal accounts or to cryptocurrency exchanges, with some of the money being wired overseas to Nigeria.
Julie Okoronkwo, who worked at a hospital, exploited her position to obtain victims’ sensitive information, such as social security numbers and driver’s license details, which the couple used to further their criminal scheme.
U.S. District Judge Brian C. Buescher, who presided over the case, described the crimes as “truly a tragedy for the victims.” In addition to the 75-month sentence for Edwin Okoronkwo, the court ordered him to pay $342,535 in restitution to seven victims. After serving his prison term, he will be placed on a three-year supervised release before being deported by immigration authorities.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, underscoring the ongoing efforts by U.S. authorities to combat international cybercrime and protect American citizens from such sophisticated fraud schemes.
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Source: U.S. Department of Justice
