INDIANAPOLIS – A 29-year-old Indianapolis man, Edwin Agbi, will spend the next 57 months in federal prison after a jury convicted him of defrauding vulnerable senior citizens through a sophisticated international romance scam. Agbi was found guilty in March of mail fraud, use of a fictitious name, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, charges stemming from a scheme that bilked victims out of at least $75,000.
The scam, hatched in 2018, involved creating false profiles on the online dating site OurTime, specifically targeting adults over 50. Agbi worked as a key money mule for a group of international scammers who built bogus relationships with unsuspecting victims. Once trust was established, the scammers began requesting funds for fabricated expenses like taxes and travel, preying on the emotional vulnerability of their targets.
Agbi’s job wasn’t about building the lies; it was about collecting the cash. Victims, believing they were sending money to their supposed significant others, mailed packages containing large sums to Agbi’s Indianapolis home, addressed to the alias “Kareem Sunday.” Agbi would then pocket a portion of the ill-gotten gains before funneling the rest to his co-conspirators’ bank accounts located overseas. Federal agents intercepted one package destined for Agbi, discovering $20,000 in cash.
The investigation, led by the U.S. Secret Service and the United States Postal Inspection Service, revealed a pattern of multiple cash deliveries to Agbi’s residence throughout 2018 and 2019. The total amount of cash confirmed to have passed through Agbi’s hands totals at least $75,000, though authorities suspect the actual figure may be higher. U.S. District Judge James R. Sweeney II handed down the 57-month sentence, also ordering three years of supervised release upon Agbi’s departure from prison and a hefty $95,500 in restitution to the victims.
“This case is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of elder fraud,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “These scammers prey on trust and vulnerability, leaving lasting financial and emotional scars. We are committed to bringing these criminals to justice.” The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Miller and MaryAnn T. Mindrum.
The case falls under the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Initiative, a program dedicated to combating elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation. Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Adams of the U.S. Secret Service Indianapolis Field Office and Inspector-in-Charge Rodney Hopkins of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Detroit Field Division, both contributed to the investigation, highlighting the collaborative effort needed to tackle these increasingly complex transnational schemes.
Related Federal Cases
- Len Davis Habeas Petition Denied, Indianapolis IN, 2023 · Washington
- Meta Faces $100M Scam Allegations, New York NY, 2024 · Arkansas
- Mohamed Laye Dioubate, Credit Card Scam, TX, 2023 · Indiana
- Arnoldo Perez Mirabal, IRS Impersonation Scam, Texas 2016 · Ohio
- Michael Idowu Olugbade, ID Theft Tax Scam, IN 2023 · Indiana
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News