Two individuals have been charged in connection with a
scheme to defraud a Nigerian company of over $2 million.
Benjamin G. Greenberg, United States Attorney for the
Southern District of Florida, Robert F. Lasky, Special Agent in Charge, Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, and Drew J. Breakspear,
Commissioner, Florida Office of Financial Regulation (OFR), made the
announcement.
Vicente Jesus Zubero, 40, of Miami, Florida, and Oyeyemi
Olatunji Owagboriaye, 62, of Skokie, Illinois, were charged by indictment with
one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and three counts of wire fraud, in
violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1343 and 1349.
As alleged in the unsealed indictment, Zubero, through his
corporation, the Consortium for International Development (CID), purported to
broker loans for clients. In August
2014, Zubero and Owagboriaye induced a company headquartered in Nigeria to
provide approximately $2.1 million upfront in order to obtain a loan from
CID. The $2.1 million was then used for
Zubero and Owagboriaye’s personal use and benefit, in violation of the
company’s agreement with CID.
The indictment further alleges that in order to facilitate
the scheme, Zubero made it appear as if his girlfriend and others worked for
CID as executives, when, in fact they did not.
Zubero also made materially false statements to the company, including that
the money would be placed into a secure escrow account, and that the money
would be used to generate the company’s loan.
Each count of conspiracy and wire fraud carries a maximum
term of twenty years in prison.
An indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is
presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Mr. Greenberg commended the investigative efforts of the FBI
and OFR. This case is being prosecuted
by Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Cruz.
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