Biz Email Scam Lands CT Man 23 Months in Prison
A 36-year-old Kenyan national has been sentenced to 23 months in prison for his role in a business email compromise scheme that swindled victims out of over $12 million.
John Muriuku Wamuigah, who was extradited to the US in 2025, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in October 2025. He was arrested in Malaysia in 2022 at the request of the US.
The scheme, which operated out of multiple countries, including the US, involved targeting specific individuals and businesses by masquerading as trustworthy entities in electronic communications to obtain money. Victims included a Connecticut-based financial company, a Colorado-based lending company, an Alaska-based nonprofit performing arts organization, a New York-based food and beverage company, and many others.
Wamuigah’s role in the scheme involved altering or forging invoices, contracts, and wire transfer instructions at the direction of his co-conspirator, Okechuckwu Valentine Osuji, a Nigerian national. Osuji used the forged documents to trick victims into sending money to bank accounts he and others controlled.
Osuji was found guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft by a jury in New Haven in May 2024. He was sentenced to 96 months in prison in December 2024. A co-conspirator, Tolulope Bodunde, was sentenced to 24 months in prison in October 2024.
The case was investigated by the FBI New Haven Field Office and the Stamford Police Department, with assistance from the Royal Malaysia Police and the Malaysian Attorney General’s Chambers. The case was prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Neeraj N. Patel and the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section.
Related Federal Cases
- Nigerian National Sentenced for $6.3M Business Email Compromise Scheme · Washington
- Nigerian National Okechuckwu Osuji Gets 60 Years for $6.3M Business Email Scam · Washington
- John Doe, Western Union Scam, California 2022 · New Mexico
- Josh Shapiro, Securities Disgorgement, Pennsylvania 2024 · New Mexico
- Amgen Pays $71M for Pushing Drugs Off-Label · New Mexico
Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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