Chisom Okonkwo, a 28-year-old resident of Lawrenceville, Georgia, has confessed to wire fraud that led a business in Gilmer County to send fraudulent wires exceeding $1 million. This was part of a business email compromise scheme.
Court documents and statements reveal that Okonkwo and another individual created an email address mimicking that of an employee at the Gilmer County business. This deception resulted in a vendor transferring over $1 million to a bank account managed by the defendants. Before the fraud was uncovered, more than $600,000 of these funds had been spent by Okonkwo and her accomplice.
The second defendant involved is Prince Boateng Adjei, aged 31, also from Lawrenceville, Georgia. His trial is set for April 2025.
As part of her plea agreement, Okonkwo has agreed to pay restitution amounting to $610,146.03. She could face up to 20 years in prison upon sentencing by a federal district court judge who will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines along with other statutory factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarod Douglas is handling the prosecution for this case on behalf of the government. The investigation was conducted by the United States Secret Service.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided over the proceedings.