By Two Nigerians Sentenced to 30 Years in U.S. Prison for $3.5 Million Fraud
Two Nigerians, Anthony Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu, have been sentenced to a combined 30 years in federal prison by a U.S. court for defrauding victims of $3.5 million through inheritance and romance scams.
According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice, Ibekie and Aniukwu tricked victims into believing they were entitled to large inheritances but needed to send money to claim them. The duo also carried out romance scams by building trust with victims through social media and dating sites before convincing them to send money.
The statement revealed that the pair orchestrated additional schemes, including a business email compromise (BEC) scam targeting corporate accounts. These fraudulent activities were uncovered through an undercover law enforcement investigation.
Following their guilty pleas, Ibekie, 59, of Oswego, Illinois, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on November 23, while Aniukwu, 50, of Romeoville, Illinois, received a 10-year sentence earlier this month. Ibekie was convicted on 14 counts, including wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and passport fraud. Aniukwu pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud and money laundering in 2023.
An accomplice, Jennifer Gosha, a 52-year-old U.S. citizen, is awaiting sentencing on December 18 after pleading guilty to wire fraud and making false statements to federal agents.
The scams reportedly caused at least $3.5 million in losses to victims across the United States. Federal authorities have emphasized their commitment to cracking down on such fraudulent schemes and holding perpetrators accountable.
