Three Nigerians based in the United States—Olumide Olorunfunmi, Samson Amos, and Emmanuel Unuigbe—are facing a combined sentence of up to 60 years in prison for allegedly laundering $4.5 million.
The case, which was originally reported by PUNCH Metro, was detailed in a statement by the US Department of Justice. The statement revealed that the trio conspired to launder money obtained from romance scams and business email compromise schemes, defrauding at least 125 victims across the US.
According to the report, Amos and Unuigbe pleaded guilty in 2023, while Olorunfunmi admitted guilt during his arraignment before a federal court in Charlotte on Friday.
The US Department of Justice stated, “Olumide Olorunfunmi, 39, a Nigerian national, appeared in federal court in Charlotte today and pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy for laundering millions in criminal proceeds linked to romance scams and business email compromise schemes. According to court documents and today’s plea hearing, the scheme caused more than 125 victims to transfer over $4.5 million of proceeds stemming from illegal activities.”
The statement further explained that the victims were instructed to deposit money into accounts controlled by Amos and his associates. These funds were then transferred to Nigeria, with the fraudsters keeping a percentage of the proceeds.
From 2020 to 2023, the defendants executed their schemes, preying on vulnerable individuals, particularly the elderly. The court documents highlight how funds were moved between domestic and international accounts, often converted into Nigerian Naira through underground financial networks.
Each defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for money laundering conspiracy. Sentencing dates have yet to be determined.
This case underscores the ongoing crackdown on financial crimes and cyber fraud schemes orchestrated by international networks. Authorities continue to warn individuals about the rising threats of online scams targeting unsuspecting victims globally.
