⏱ 2 min read
A Georgia man, Chinedu Opute, 43, of LaGrange, has been sentenced to 6 years in prison for his role in a business email scheme that stole $1.7 million from victim entities in Ohio. The scheme, which occurred in 2023, involved Opute and his co-conspirators gaining unauthorized access to business email accounts and posing as legitimate vendors to request payments. Opute was responsible for setting up bank accounts to receive and disburse the stolen funds, including a fake company and identity he created to open a bank account.
The scheme targeted several victims, including a local government entity in the Northern District of Ohio, and resulted in the theft of over $1 million in June 2023. Opute then disbursed the funds by loading them onto prepaid credit cards and withdrawing the money from ATMs in the Atlanta area. He kept approximately 30-40% of the stolen funds for himself.
Opute pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, and Aggravated Identity Theft in January. In addition to his prison sentence, he was ordered to serve three years of supervised release, pay a $15,000 fine, and pay over $1.4 million in restitution.
The case highlights the growing threat of business email schemes, which can result in significant financial losses for victims. The sentence handed down to Opute serves as a warning to others who may be involved in similar schemes.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: Georgia
- Location: OH
- Source: DOJ Press Release
