NEW ORLEANS, LA — A Georgia man is facing federal charges for allegedly laundering $60,000 stolen from victims of online scams through a maritime purchase in Louisiana. Emmanuel Ugbaja, 53, of Duluth, Georgia, was indicted on one count of Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering and two counts of Money Laundering, according to documents unsealed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The indictment, handed down in New Orleans, ties Ugbaja to a web of international fraud that began in 2018. Two victims—one from Kansas and one from California—were separately duped in elaborate internet scams. The Kansas victim sent money to a supposed romantic partner in a classic romance scam, while the Californian sent funds to a fraudster posing as a legitimate attorney in an inheritance scam.
Both victims were instructed by the scammers to wire their money to a bank account controlled by Ugbaja. Authorities allege he kept a cut of the stolen funds and funneled the remaining $60,000 to Bourg Marine, a local maritime broker, as a down payment for a vessel unrelated to the scams—a move investigators say was designed to obscure the illicit origins of the cash.
Ugbaja now faces up to ten years in prison for each count, along with a maximum of three years of supervised release and fines of up to $250,000 per count—or twice the gross gain or loss tied to the crime. He must also pay a $100 special assessment for each of the three counts if convicted.
U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans emphasized that the indictment is not a finding of guilt. “This is a charge, and the defendant’s guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt,” Evans stated. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera of the Financial Crimes Unit.
The indictment is part of a broader Department of Justice campaign targeting overseas fraud rings that exploit American victims. The FBI urges the public to report suspected online scams through the Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. The investigation was conducted with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Related Federal Cases
- UGBAJA Sentenced for $60,000 Money Laundering Scam · Kansas
- Emmanuel Ugbaaja Charged in $60K Romance and Inheritance Scam Scheme · Kansas
- Georgia Con Man Gets Five Years Probation for Online Scam Laundering · Kansas
- Amgen Pays $71M for Pushing Drugs Off-Label · Washington
- Amgen Inc. $71M Settlement · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Louisiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News