A group of fraudsters who swindled unsuspecting victims out of $17 million through various schemes, including romance scams and investment frauds, have received hefty sentences, according to the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas. Damilola Kumapayi was sentenced to 109 months in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud conspiracy, one of numerous hefty sentences imposed in a case that highlighted the court system’s harsh stance against such criminal activity.
In a trial that revealed the convicts’ vast network and intricate deceptions, siblings Chidindu and Chiagoziem Okeke, as well as Edgal Iribhogbe, were sentenced to 480 months in prison each after being convicted of wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies; their extensive operation targeted not only individuals but also businesses and government entities. Sandra Iribhogbe, who also admitted to the same charges, received a sentence of 365 months in prison. They all played roles in sophisticated frauds that robbed many, including elderly citizens, of their life savings, and the FBI agent in charge, R. Joseph Rothrock, hopes the verdict brings some solace to the victims, according to a statement issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The sentencing, which occurred before U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant III, paints a grave image of the exploiters who used online platforms and email schemes to lure victims into releasing funds under false pretenses, with methodologies ranging from romance entanglements on dating sites to fraudulent business propositions and even taking advantage of the unemployment insurance system; the money was then laundered across continents, emphasizing the global reach and the organization.
These sentences, totaling nearly 160 years, are the result of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative involving various law enforcement agencies such as the FBI, IRS-Criminal Investigation, and Homeland Security Investigations. The effort stamps a clear warning to criminals that preying on vulnerable communities will meet the full force of justice, as emphasized by Christopher J. Altemus, Jr., the IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge in the Dallas Field.
