U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery | U.S. Department of Justice
Okechuckwu Valentine Osuji, a 39-year-old Nigerian national, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for his role in a business email compromise scheme. The sentencing took place in New Haven, Connecticut. Osuji operated the fraudulent scheme across multiple countries, including the United States.
Court documents reveal that Osuji and his co-conspirators deceived individuals and businesses by posing as legitimate entities through electronic communications to obtain money. They used both witting and unwitting "money mules" to channel fraud proceeds into their bank accounts. These funds were then transferred to accounts controlled by the conspirators or converted into cash for further transfer. Victims of this scheme included various organizations such as a financial company based in Connecticut, a lending company from Colorado, an Alaska-based nonprofit performing arts organization, and a food and beverage company located in New York.
The scam also involved romance scams targeting elderly individuals who unknowingly acted as money mules. One victim testified about being tricked into sending her savings and income to someone she believed was her romantic partner but was actually one of Osuji’s accomplices. This led to significant financial losses for her, resulting in bankruptcy and losing her home.
Osuji was arrested in Malaysia and extradited to the United States in 2022. In May 2024, he was found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft by a jury in New Haven. The total losses from the scheme amounted to over $6 million. During his sentencing hearing, Osuji was ordered to pay restitution to his victims.
John Wamuigah, another alleged co-conspirator of Osuji's who remains in Malaysia, is awaiting extradition proceedings. It is important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation; Wamuigah is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
Tolulope Bodunde, also a Nigerian citizen involved in the scheme, pleaded guilty and received a two-year prison sentence on October 16.
The announcement regarding this case was made by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery for the District of Connecticut; and Special Agent in Charge Robert Fuller of the FBI New Haven Field Office.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI New Haven Field Office with assistance from the Stamford Police Department. Support for securing Osuji's arrest and extradition came from several international agencies including the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, Royal Malaysia Police, and Malaysian Attorney General’s Chambers.
Trial Attorney Lydia Lichlyter from the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Neeraj N. Patel are handling prosecution duties for this case.
For more information on business email compromise scams visit: www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/business-email-compromise or www.ic3.gov/CrimeInfo/BEC.
