Defendants Received and Laundered Proceeds of Online Fraud
Schemes Involving Over $5 Million of Intended Loss
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the
Southern District of New York, Patrick
Freaney, Deputy Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the
United States Secret Service (“Secret Service”), Troy Miller, Director of New
York Field Operations for United States Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”),
and William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office
of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”),
announced today the arrests of JACOB SAGIAO, MARYLYNN PENEUETA, BRITT
JACKSON, JOSHUA FITTEN, DONTAE COTTRELL, ARINZE OBIKA, HERMAN BASS, DAVID URO,
and PRINCE UKO for money laundering and wire fraud schemes. Eight of the defendants were presented before
United States Magistrate Judges in three federal judicial districts on February
27 and 28. UKO will be presented before
a United States Magistrate Judge in the Northern District of Georgia later
today. Two other defendants, VICTOR
AHAIWE and NDUKWE ANYAOGU, remain at large.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “As alleged, the defendants conspired to
launder the proceeds of online fraud schemes that deceived victims into sending
the defendants more than $5 million.
Thanks to the Secret Service and CBP, nine of the defendants are in
custody, and all 11 face serious federal charges.”
Secret Service Deputy Special Agent in Charge Patrick
Freaney said: “The U.S. Secret Service
is dedicated to the pursuit and investigation of those responsible for
committing cyber-enabled fraud. The
success of this investigation is the result of a collaborative effort between
the New York Field Office of the Secret Service and the U.S. Attorney’s Office
of the Southern District of New York.
Additionally, I would like to recognize the efforts of the Atlanta Field
Office and Los Angeles Field Office of the Secret Service for their invaluable
assistance that have made this investigation a success.”
CBP Director of New York Field Operations Troy Miller
said: “This case exemplifies the
collaborative law enforcement efforts to combat transnational criminal
organizations. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is proud to have collaborated
with our fellow law enforcement partners during this investigation leading to
today’s arrests.”
FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said: “The threat of cyber-enabled fraud has long
been publicized, and many people assume they know enough to avoid being victimized
by this type of crime. The truth is,
however, fraudsters are often very skilled at targeting their victims and
masking their behavior in a way that often goes undetected until it’s too late. Today’s charges are yet another reminder to
the public to exercise due diligence in both personal and professional online
settings as we work together to defeat cybercrime worldwide.”
According to the allegations in the two Complaints charging
the defendants:[1]
From at least in or about July 2018 up to and including at
least in or about November 2019, SAGIAO, PENEUETA, JACKSON, FITTEN, COTTRELL,
OBIKA, BASS, URO, AHAIWE, ANYAOGU, and UKO received and laundered the proceeds
of three business email compromise schemes, in which the corporate and
organizational victims were fraudulently induced to send nearly $5 million to
bank accounts controlled by SAGIAO, OBIKA, and others.
From at least in or about June 2019 up to and including the
present, JACKSON participated in and received proceeds from an online romance
fraud scheme, in which the victim was fraudulently induced to send over
$130,000 to JACKSON and others.
In or about October 2018, ANYAOGU participated in and
received proceeds from an email compromise scheme, in which a foreign law firm
was fraudulently induced to transfer approximately $380,000, intended for
another person, to a bank account ANYAOGU controlled.
In or about February 2020, UKO made the false statements to
federal law enforcement officers that he had never exchanged text messages with
a co-conspirator and that certain transactions were for a textile business
rather than to launder the proceeds of criminal activity.
*
* *
SAGIAO, PENEUETA, JACKSON, FITTEN, COTTRELL, OBIKA, BASS,
URO, AHAIWE, and ANYAOGU are charged with: (1) conspiracy to commit bank fraud,
and (2) conspiracy to commit money laundering.
AHAIWE is also charged with aggravated identity theft, and JACKSON and
ANYAOGU are also charged with wire fraud.
UKO is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and making
false statements in a matter within the jurisdiction of the executive branch of
the Government of the United States.
Conspiracy to commit bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349,
carries a maximum term of 30 years in prison.
Conspiracy to commit money laundering, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §
1956(h), carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison. Aggravated identity theft, in violation of 18
U.S.C. § 1028A, carries a mandatory consecutive term of two years in
prison. Wire fraud, in violation of 18
U.S.C. § 1343, carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison. Making a false statement in a matter within
the jurisdiction of the executive branch of the Government of the United
States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001, carries maximum term of five years in
prison. The maximum potential sentences
and the mandatory minimum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided
here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants would
be determined by the judge.
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the
Secret Service, and, in particular, the Secret Service’s Electronic Crimes Task
Force, CBP, the FBI, and special agents of the United States Attorney’s Office
for the Southern District of New York. The
prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes
Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys
Jun Xiang and Kevin Mead are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaints are merely
accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven
guilty.
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