Congo Man Sentenced

⏱ 2 min read

A 27-year-old man from the Congo, Chris Kasimbo Kalwahali, has been sentenced to 33 months in prison for his role in an email compromise scheme that defrauded a business in Auburn, Alabama, of over $200,000. The scheme, which occurred in March 2023, involved Kalwahali’s co-conspirators gaining unauthorized access to a business email account, likely through hacking or social engineering. Once inside, they impersonated the legitimate account holder, sending fake messages to business partners with instructions to update payment information, ultimately directing payments to their own bank accounts.

Kalwahali pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering, and on March 24, 2026, a federal judge handed down the 33-month prison sentence, to be followed by three years of supervised release. The case was investigated by the FBI, with Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson and Special Agent in Charge Sara J. Jones announcing the sentencing.

The FBI has warned that business email compromise schemes are a growing threat to companies across the country, and this case serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and swift reporting of cybercrimes. The FBI encourages anyone who has been a victim of cybercrime to report it immediately at www.ic3.gov, as quick reporting increases the chances of recovering stolen funds and bringing perpetrators to justice.