James Aliyu, 29, has been extradited from South Africa to the United States to face federal charges related to a $6-million business email compromise (BEC) scheme. Aliyu is the last of three defendants charged in this case.

A federal grand jury indicted Aliyu, Kosi Goodness Simon-Ebo, 30, and Henry Onyedikachi Echefu, 31, for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering connected to the BEC scheme. The indictment alleges that these Nigerian citizens, who lived in South Africa during the crimes, were involved in unauthorized access to email accounts and sent false wiring instructions from spoofed emails. This resulted in victims sending money to bank accounts controlled by the perpetrators.

The indictment also claims that the defendants conspired to launder money by transferring funds obtained through fraud into other accounts. Simon-Ebo is specifically charged with three counts of wire fraud for transferring over $6 million collected from victims.

Simon-Ebo and Echefu were previously extradited from Canada and have pled guilty. They have been sentenced accordingly.

If convicted, Aliyu could face up to 20 years in federal prison for each charge of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering. However, actual sentences are usually less than maximum penalties as determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron announced the indictment alongside Special Agent James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations Baltimore. Barron commended various agencies including HSI’s Mid-Atlantic El Dorado Task Force and international authorities for their assistance in securing extraditions.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt; those charged are presumed innocent until proven otherwise in criminal proceedings.

For further information on this case or resources available through the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, visit their official website.