A 35-year-old Nigerian, Olamide Shanu, has pleaded guilty in the United States to his role in international sextortion and romance fraud schemes. The schemes targeted about 150 Americans and generated more than $2.5 million in proceeds. Shanu pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering after allegedly working with co-conspirators who defrauded victims through sextortion and romance scams.
The sextortion scheme involved Shanu and others targeting male victims by persuading them to send sexual images. They then threatened to distribute the images to their friends and family unless they paid money. The group also operated romance scams by creating fake identities on social media and building relationships with victims, including older men and women.
After gaining the trust of their victims, the fraudsters allegedly asked them to send money to meet supposedly urgent financial needs. Prosecutors said money obtained from the schemes was moved through peer-to-peer payment applications and cryptocurrency wallets before being transferred to co-conspirators in Nigeria.
US prosecutors stated that the schemes resulted in millions of dollars in losses to victims. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division said, “This case exposes a sophisticated international scheme that exploited Americans through sextortion and romance fraud, laundering millions in criminal proceeds.”
Shanu was extradited from Nigeria to the United States and is due to be sentenced on December 15. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis for the District of Idaho stated, “This prosecution demonstrates our unwavering commitment to holding cybercriminals accountable, no matter where they operate in the world.”
Assistant Director Brent Daniels of the U.S. Secret Service’s Office of Field Operations also commented on the case. He said, “This guilty plea is an important step toward justice for the victims harmed by this international scheme and reflects the Secret Service’s commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and hold accountable those who use cyber-enabled fraud to target Americans.”
The case highlights the ongoing efforts of US law enforcement to combat international cybercrime. The guilty plea and upcoming sentencing serve as a warning to those involved in similar schemes. The US Department of Justice and other agencies continue to work together to prevent and prosecute crimes involving sextortion and romance fraud.
Key points
- Olamide Shanu faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for his role in the romance fraud schemes.
- The schemes targeted about 150 Americans and generated more than $2.5 million in proceeds.
- Shanu was extradited from Nigeria to the United States to face charges.
