HUNTINGTON, WV – Augustine Amechi, 24, a Nigerian national and student at Marshall University, has confessed to his role in a sprawling romance fraud scheme that bilked victims out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Amechi pleaded guilty to receiving stolen money, admitting to acting as a key money mule in a network preying on vulnerable individuals.
Court documents reveal the scheme operated from at least 2018 through March 11, 2021, funneling illicit funds through Amechi’s bank accounts in Cabell County, West Virginia. Victims, lured by online romance scammers, were convinced to send money for fabricated emergencies and false pretenses. Amechi didn’t just receive the money; he actively dispersed it, keeping a cut for himself and forwarding the remainder to co-conspirators, including transfers exceeding $15,000 back to Nigeria.
The scale of the fraud is staggering. Amechi admitted to directly receiving $108,601.92 in deposits from victims. On top of that, he received over $150,000 in cash mailed to his Huntington residence and another $140,000 via Zelle. Investigators traced the stolen funds to at least 37 separate victims, suggesting a widespread and systematic operation. The total amount laundered through Amechi’s accounts tops $400,000.
Amechi’s guilty plea comes with a potential sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison. As part of a plea agreement, he’s also obligated to pay restitution totaling at least $192,762.19 – a fraction of the total amount stolen, but a step towards accountability. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia, led by William S. Thompson, spearheaded the prosecution, lauding the collaborative efforts of the Secret Service, Postal Inspection Service, FDIC-OIG, West Virginia State Police, and South Charleston Police Department.
United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers presided over the hearing, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys R. Gregory McVey and Kathleen Robeson handling the case. This case underscores the growing threat of romance scams, which often target vulnerable adults and can result in devastating financial losses. Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspected fraudulent activity.
Victims of financial fraud, especially those age 60 and over, are encouraged to seek help from the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11. The hotline provides personalized support and connects victims with relevant reporting agencies and resources. To report online fraud activity, visit https://www.ic3.gov/. Court documents related to this case (Case No. 3:21-cr-0069) are available on PACER.
Related Federal Cases
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- Robert Lamar Payne, Heroin Distribution, Huntington WV, 2014 · Virginia
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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