Huntington, W.Va. – In a shocking admission, Augustine Amechi, a 24-year-old Nigerian national, has pleaded guilty to receiving stolen money as part of a massive romance fraud scheme.
According to court documents and statements during the plea hearing, Amechi was involved in the fraudulent scheme from at least 2018 until March 11, 2021. During this time, he lived in Huntington and attended Marshall University while orchestrating his criminal enterprise. The defendant admitted to convincing victims to wire money to accounts he controlled, totaling nearly $400K.
Amechi received over $108K directly into his bank accounts, more than $150K cash mailed to his residence, and an additional $140K through Zelle transfers. He also confessed to obtaining stolen funds from at least 37 victims and transferring over $15K to Nigerian bank accounts.
On March 7, 2021, Amechi faces up to a decade in prison, along with the requirement of paying at least $192K in restitution. United States Attorney William S. Thompson announced the plea, commending the investigative efforts of various agencies including the United States Secret Service and West Virginia State Police.
The hearing was presided over by United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers, with Assistant United States Attorneys R. Gregory McVey and Kathleen Robeson handling the prosecution.
For those who suspect online fraud or scams, the public is encouraged to report at https://www.ic3.gov/. Elderly victims can seek help from the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11. Reporting financial fraud promptly can increase the chances of recovering losses.
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Key Facts
- State: West Virginia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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