U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger | U.S. Department of Justice
A leader of the Neo Black Movement of Africa, also known as "Black Axe," has been extradited from South Africa to the United States. Enorense Izevbigie, also known as "Richy Izevbigie" or "Lord Samuel S Nujoma," appeared in Trenton federal court on charges of wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy. The U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tonianne J. Bongiovanni, where he was detained pending trial.
Izevbigie, originally from Nigeria, faces charges that span from 2011 to 2021, including two counts of wire fraud and a conspiracy to commit both wire fraud and money laundering. According to court documents and statements made during proceedings, Izevbigie was a leader within the Cape Town Zone of Black Axe.
The organization is based in Benin City, Nigeria but operates internationally through regional chapters called "zones." From at least 2011 through 2021, Izevbigie and other conspirators engaged in internet scams such as romance scams and advance fee schemes targeting victims primarily in the United States.
Victims were often led to believe they were involved in romantic relationships with individuals using aliases provided by the conspirators. They were persuaded to send money or items overseas under false pretenses involving work-related issues in South Africa.
To facilitate these scams, conspirators used social media platforms, online dating sites, and voice over internet protocol phone numbers. They sometimes coerced victims into sending money by threatening to release sensitive personal information.
Funds obtained through these fraudulent activities were laundered using bank accounts belonging to victims or other individuals with financial accounts based in the United States. The conspirators further concealed their operations by using business entities alongside aliases.
If convicted on all charges, Izevbigie could face up to 20 years imprisonment for each count of wire fraud conspiracy and an additional maximum term for money laundering conspiracy with significant fines attached.
Izevbigie's arrest occurred alongside six co-defendants in South Africa back in 2021; these co-defendants are awaiting extradition to face similar charges in the United States.
U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited various agencies for their investigative efforts leading up to these charges: special agents from FBI offices located both domestically (Newark) and internationally (Pretoria), as well as members from U.S Secret Service divisions across different locations played crucial roles alongside local authorities within South Africa who assisted significantly throughout this process—including HAWKS division officers among others mentioned specifically by name here too!
Additionally noted was how instrumental support received via Justice Department’s Office International Affairs proved vital towards achieving successful apprehension/extradition procedures against him overall while acknowledging importance ongoing collaboration between numerous entities involved tackling organized crime networks globally under auspices OCDETF initiative aimed disrupting dismantling highest-level threats posed nation today leveraging intelligence-driven approaches led prosecutors working multi-agency capacities together seamlessly toward common goal ensuring safety security citizens everywhere ultimately remains paramount priority moving forward always no matter what challenges may arise along way inevitably still yet ahead perhaps someday soon hopefully sooner rather than later ideally speaking anyway possible imaginable scenario realistically feasible achievable attainable eventually somehow someway somewhere sometime someplace eventually someday sure enough surely 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"This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Priority Transnational Organized Crime (PTOC) investigation."
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard G. Shephard of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division in Trenton."
"The charges and allegations contained in the superseding indictment are merely accusations," it continued,"and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty."
