A U.S. District Court has sentenced Nigerian national Victor Uzor to four years in prison for his role in a $1.1 million business email compromise scheme. The sentence, delivered by Judge Kelley Brisbon Hodge, also includes three years of supervised release and over $1 million in restitution, as announced by United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero on the Department of Justice website.
On January 2, 2024, Uzor pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The scheme involved conspirators posing as legitimate vendors and sending false invoices to targeted organizations.
Uzor’s criminal activities included opening multiple bank accounts using the identities of innocent individuals. An accomplice coordinated the transfer of funds to these accounts, after which Uzor quickly withdrew the money and moved it to other accounts to evade detection.
Overall, Uzor was implicated in the theft of approximately $1.1 million from various businesses and individuals, and he attempted to steal an additional $400,000, though that effort was unsuccessful. Notably, one of his targets was a nonprofit organization in Bucks County, which provides behavioral health care to underserved communities.
“In stealing from this provider, he shortchanged its employees, patients, and the community,” stated U.S. Attorney Romero, emphasizing the commitment to hold all fraudsters accountable.
FBI Philadelphia Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs reiterated the bureau’s dedication to dismantling fraud schemes, vowing to continue pursuing justice for victims and safeguarding their assets.
