United States Attorney David I. Courcelle announced on April 14 that a federal arrest warrant has been issued for Emuobosan Emanuella Hall, age 45, of Atlanta, Georgia, after she failed to report to the Bureau of Prisons as ordered. Hall, a permanent resident from Nigeria, was sentenced in January to eight years in prison for her role in a romance scam targeting mostly older women.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to enforce the law and protect vulnerable victims from fraud. The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana enforces federal laws and prosecutes criminal cases according to the official website.
Court documents show that Hall was charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and money laundering in April 2024. After being arrested in Atlanta and granted bond, she pleaded guilty and was later sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo. Judge Milazzo allowed Hall to remain on bond until March 25, when she was required to report for her sentence at a designated facility in Minnesota.
However, GPS data indicated that Hall's monitoring device stopped working at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on March 24. Airline records showed she did not board her scheduled flight, while phone records suggest travel toward Dulles Airport near Washington, D.C.
Hall admitted responsibility for $851,207 in losses related to the scam; her codefendant Kenneth G. Akpieyi was found responsible for over $3.5 million after his conviction and is serving a 25-year sentence. Prosecutors say conspirators posed as generals or philanthropists online before moving conversations with victims onto encrypted platforms like WhatsApp and soliciting funds under false pretenses.
Courcelle said: “Our office will vigorously enforce the law, particularly when a defendant fails to report to prison to serve her sentence. Her failure to report reflects an utter lack of respect for the law. HALL was sentenced for her role in defrauding women, often of money that they had saved for their retirement. Our office will continue to prosecute fraud wherever it occurs, especially when criminals exploit vulnerable victims.”
If convicted on this new charge of failing to surrender as ordered under Title 18 United States Code Sections 3146(a)(2) and (b)(1)(A)(i), Hall faces up to ten additional years imprisonment consecutive with her prior sentence plus fines up to $250,000.
The FBI New Orleans Field Office is investigating this matter with Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew R. Payne leading prosecution efforts.
The Department of Justice recently announced creation of its National Fraud Enforcement Division dedicated "to zealously investigate and prosecute those who steal or fraudulently misuse taxpayer dollars," supporting broader government initiatives against fraud.
