Nigerian man, accomplices sentenced to prison for $2.6m fraud by US court

Okechukwu Iwuji, a Nigerian citizen, has been found guilty and sentenced to prison for his active role in a complex advance fee and money laundering scheme.

Shawn Anderson, a representative from the US Attorney’s Office in Guam, announced the verdict, revealing that this criminal enterprise targeted 60 victims primarily residing in Guam.

Okechukwu Iwuji, aged 38, alongside his co-conspirators Sally Roberto, Mekayda D. Jones, and Monique Jones, was proven to be the mastermind behind an intricate fraudulent operation that cunningly extracted around $2.6 million from investors in Guam.

These victims were lured into making payments under the guise of fabricated fees, alluring them with the promise of a fictitious multimillion-dollar inheritance.

Based in Orlando, Florida, Iwuji has been handed a 45-month prison term, followed by a three-year supervised release. In addition, he is mandated to pay a forfeiture money judgement amounting to $475,710, $100 in assessment fees, and $475,710 in restitution.

The sentencing took place on August 17, after Iwuji previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. As part of his role in the conspiracy, Iwuji diverted victim funds to third-party Nigerian bank accounts after obtaining over $475,710 from his co-conspirators.

Sally Roberto, aged 56 from Santa Rita, has been sentenced to 33 months in prison, accompanied by three years of supervised release. She is also obliged to pay restitution worth $1,030,990, a mandatory assessment fee of $3,900, and a forfeiture money judgement of $1,030,990.

Monique Jones, another conspirator, is set to serve 48 months of imprisonment, coupled with three years of supervised release. Her restitution payments amount to $578,130, alongside a mandatory assessment fee of $2,700 and a forfeiture money judgement of $1,111,280.

Mekayda D. Jones, 24 years old from Dallas, Texas, has been sentenced to 36 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. She is required to make restitution payments of $387,160, pay a mandatory assessment fee of $1,600, and meet a forfeiture money judgement of $801,210. Her conviction came after a jury found her guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 14 counts of wire fraud, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

Monique and Mekayda Jones played a role in perpetuating the fraud by maintaining bank accounts under the names of shell corporations. These accounts facilitated the flow of funds from victims to co-conspirators in both the US and Nigeria. In return, they retained a portion of the victim funds.

Prosecutor Anderson emphasized that this wide-ranging conspiracy victimized 60 individuals, mostly from Guam. Investigating and prosecuting such scams is challenging due to their multi-jurisdictional nature. The successful outcome of this case reflects collaborative efforts across various jurisdictions.

Federal Bureau of Investigation Agent Steven Merrill pledged continued vigilance against similar cases, urging the public to exercise skepticism, especially when encountering offers that seem too good to be true. If suspected of falling victim to scams, individuals are encouraged to report to the FBI through (800) 225-5324 (CALL-FBI) or tips.fbi.gov.