By Gift Habib
A federal jury in New Haven, Connecticut, convicted Nigerian Okechukwu Osuji on Wednesday for orchestrating a business email compromise scheme that spanned multiple countries, including the United States.
According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday, Osuji and his co-conspirators, John Wamuigah and Tolulope Bodunde, defrauded victims of over $6.3 million. The jury found Osuji guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
Osuji is scheduled for sentencing on July 24 and faces a mandatory minimum of two years for the identity theft charge, with a potential maximum of 60 years for the wire fraud and conspiracy charges. A Federal District Court judge will determine the final sentence based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Arrested in Malaysia, Osuji was extradited to the U.S. in 2022. His alleged co-conspirator, Wamuigah, remains in Malaysia and is awaiting extradition. Another co-conspirator, Bodunde, pleaded guilty on February 16.
Court documents revealed that Osuji, 39, and his co-conspirators targeted individuals and businesses by posing as legitimate entities in electronic communications to steal money. They employed both unwitting and willing “money mules” to receive the fraudulent proceeds, which were then transferred to accounts controlled by Osuji and his co-conspirators, or converted to cash for further distribution.
Throughout the scheme’s years-long operation, many victims were misled into transferring funds into bank accounts they believed belonged to legitimate recipients, while in reality, the accounts were under Osuji’s control.
“Osuji led a network of scammers in Malaysia and elsewhere in a sophisticated business email compromise scheme to defraud victims of millions of dollars,” said Nicole Argentieri, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General and Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Vanessa Avery, noted, “Today’s conviction exemplifies how collaboration with international law enforcement helps us bring cybercriminals to justice in the U.S. Despite the challenges of identifying and prosecuting overseas cybercriminals, today’s verdict underscores the expertise of the FBI and Stamford Police in dismantling this network.”
FBI Executive Assistant Director Timothy Langan Jr. added, “The defendant perpetrated a complex international business email compromise scheme and laundered millions in stolen proceeds. This conviction is the result of hard work and close collaboration between the FBI and our local and international partners. We are committed to bringing to justice anyone who engages in fraud against Americans, no matter where they operate.”