Two Nigerian nationals, Okechuckwu Osuji and Tolulope Bodunde, have been sentenced to a combined 10 years in prison by a United States federal jury for their roles in a business email compromise (BEC) scheme. The scam defrauded U.S. companies and elderly individuals of approximately $6 million.
The conviction, detailed in a press statement from the U.S. Department of Justice and obtained by FRONTPAGE Online, revealed that Osuji, 39, received an eight-year sentence on Wednesday, while Bodunde was sentenced to two years on October 16, 2024.
Details of the Scheme
According to court documents, Osuji and his co-conspirators executed the scheme by impersonating legitimate entities through email communications to deceive victims into transferring money into accounts they controlled. The operation spanned multiple countries, including the United States.
The statement highlighted, “Okechuckwu Valentine Osuji, a Nigerian national, was sentenced in New Haven, Connecticut, to eight years in prison for operating a business email compromise scheme. The scheme targeted individuals and businesses by masquerading as trustworthy entities in electronic communications to obtain money.”
The group used “money mules”—both witting and unwitting—to receive the stolen funds. These mules transferred the money into accounts controlled by the perpetrators or converted it into cash for further distribution.
Victims of the Scam
The fraudulent operation affected a variety of entities, including:
- A financial company in Connecticut
- A lending company in Colorado
- A nonprofit performing arts organization in Alaska
- A food and beverage company in New York
- Numerous other businesses and individuals across the United States
One elderly victim testified that she was duped into sending her life savings, including Social Security checks, to an individual she believed was her romantic partner. The scam led her to bankruptcy, the repossession of her home, and the use of her personal bank account to facilitate fraud against other victims.
Legal Proceedings
Osuji was extradited from Malaysia in 2022 and convicted on May 1, 2024, of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. At his sentencing, Osuji was ordered to pay restitution to his victims.
The statement concluded, “Losses and intended losses from the scheme totaled over $6 million. Tolulope Bodunde, another Nigerian co-conspirator, pleaded guilty and was sentenced on October 16 to two years in prison.”
The U.S. Department of Justice emphasized the devastating impact of the scam, particularly on elderly victims, and underscored the importance of cross-border collaboration in tackling financial crimes.
