Nigerians Sentenced to 30 Years for Romance and Inheritance Fraud in the US
Two Nigerian nationals, Anthony Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu, have been sentenced to a combined 30 years in prison in the United States for orchestrating a $3.5 million fraud scheme. Their operations included inheritance and romance scams targeting American citizens.
The pair deceived victims into believing they were entitled to large inheritances, requiring payments to claim the funds. Additionally, they exploited online dating platforms to build trust in romantic relationships and convince victims to send money. Their schemes also included email fraud targeting businesses.
Following an undercover investigation, Ibekie, 59, received a 20-year sentence for multiple charges, including wire fraud and money laundering. Aniukwu, 50, was sentenced to 10 years after pleading guilty to similar offenses.
An accomplice, Jennifer Gosha, a U.S. citizen, is set to be sentenced next month after pleading guilty to wire fraud. Authorities continue to emphasize the importance of vigilance against suchscams.
