A 35-year-old Nigerian, Olamide Shanu, has pleaded guilty in the United States to conspiracy to commit money laundering after participating in s+xtortion and romance fr@ud schemes that defraded about 150 Americans of more than $2.5 million. According to the US Department of Justice, Shanu pleaded guilty on Monday in the District of Idaho and admitted making more than $2.5 million from the schemes with his co-conspirators.
In the s+xtortion scheme, the conspirators allegedly targeted male victims, persuaded them to send s+xual images and then threatened to share the images with their friends and family unless they paid money. They also targeted older men and women through romance sc@ms, using fake identities on social media to establish deceptive emotional relationships before asking victims for money under the guise of urgent financial needs.
The proceeds were allegedly landered through peer-to-peer payment apps and cryptocurrency wallets before being transferred to co-conspirators in Nigeria. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva described the case as an international scheme that exploited Americans through s+xtortion and romance fr@ud while landering millions of dollars in criminal proceeds. US Attorney Bart M.
Davis said the guilty plea reflected efforts by prosecutors and law enforcement partners to disrupt international criminal networks, protect victims and ensure cyber-enabled crme does not go unanswered. Shanu, who was extradited to the US, is scheduled to be sentenced on December 15 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal judge will determine his sentence after considering the US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The post Nigerian man pleads guilty to defrading 150 Americans of $2.5M In s+xtortion and romance Sc@m appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.
