Nigerian Launderer Gets 7 Years for $1.9M Fraud

WILLIAMSPORT, PA – Jabin Godspower Okpako, 36, is headed to federal prison for nearly eight years after being sentenced to 87 months’ imprisonment for his role in a sprawling $1.89 million money laundering operation. Chief Judge Matthew W. Brann of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania handed down the sentence on November 23, 2021, bringing a measure of justice to victims of a particularly callous fraud.

According to U.S. Attorney John C. Gurganus, Okpako and his wife, Christine Bradley Okpako, 54, of Sayre, Pennsylvania, acted as key money mules in a scheme that preyed on vulnerable women aged 55 to 85 across the United States. The pair received approximately $1,898,046 in fraudulent funds, then systematically laundered the money through a network of bank and wire transfers, ultimately funneling the illicit gains to three separate bank accounts in Nigeria.

The underlying fraud involved con artists – operating from both the U.S. and West Africa – who established online relationships with victims through platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Words with Friends, and WhatsApp. These predators cultivated trust through prolonged interaction and exchanged photos before spinning elaborate tales to extract money. Victims were swindled with sob stories involving Alaskan workers, fictional D.C. apartments, fabricated United Nations appeals, broken oil rig machinery, medical emergencies, bogus inheritance claims, and fraudulent gold investments. Once funds were secured, the unindicted co-conspirators directed victims to send checks and cash to the Okpakos’ residence in Sayre.

Judge Brann expressed clear frustration during sentencing, noting the Okpakos’ brazen disregard for the law. Despite numerous banks flagging and closing their accounts due to the suspicious activity, the couple continued to transfer fraud proceeds to Nigeria. They even ignored a direct warning letter from the FBI regarding their activities, demonstrating a calculated and persistent effort to conceal the illicit funds. The judge ordered Okpako to pay $440,950 in restitution to the victims and forfeit the proceeds of the criminal enterprise.

Christine Bradley Okpako previously pleaded guilty on March 31, 2021, to conspiracy to commit money laundering through mail and wire fraud and is currently awaiting her own sentencing. The investigation was led by the FBI, with Assistant U.S. Attorney George J. Rocktashel spearheading the prosecution. This case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of romance and online fraud, and the lengths criminals will go to exploit vulnerable individuals.

Grimy Times will continue to follow the sentencing of Christine Bradley Okpako and report any further developments in this case. Readers are urged to be vigilant when engaging with individuals online and to report any suspected fraudulent activity to the FBI or their local law enforcement agencies. The elderly are particularly susceptible to these schemes, and increased awareness is critical to preventing future victimization.

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