A United States federal court has sentenced Anthony Emeka Ibekie and Samuel Aniukwu to a total of 30 years in prison for orchestrating fraud schemes that defrauded American citizens of $3.5 million. The elaborate scams included inheritance fraud, online romance schemes, and business email compromise tactics.
The U.S. Department of Justice, in a statement, detailed how the duo used aliases to deceive victims by claiming they had substantial inheritances that required upfront payments to access. Victims were further manipulated through online romance scams, where trust was established via social media and dating websites to extract money. Additionally, the pair conducted schemes targeting corporate email accounts, resulting in significant financial losses.
The investigation, led by undercover law enforcement, uncovered the fraudulent activities and secured convictions. The statement noted:
- Anthony Ibekie, 59, of Oswego, Illinois, was convicted on 14 counts, including wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, making false statements to a bank, and passport fraud. He received a 20-year prison sentence.
- Samuel Aniukwu, 50, of Romeoville, Illinois, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering charges last year. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison on November 8, 2024.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasized the devastating impact of the scams, which swindled victims across the country.
In a related case, Jennifer Gosha, a 52-year-old U.S. citizen from Oak Park, Illinois, who participated in the schemes, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and making false statements to federal agents. Her sentencing is scheduled for December 18, 2024.
The authorities reaffirmed their commitment to combating financial fraud and urged citizens to remain vigilant against online scams.
