⏱ 2 min read
Saheed Sunday Owolabi, a Nigerian man, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for his role in a massive online romance scam that targeted vulnerable citizens in the United States, particularly in the Eastern District of North Carolina. Owolabi and his co-conspirators used fake online relationships to cheat victims into sending money and personal information. The scam, which involved laundering over $1.5 million to Nigeria, was uncovered by the FBI and prosecuted by the US Attorney’s office.
Owolabi’s scheme involved pretending to be a woman to build online relationships with men in the US. He and his co-conspirators used these fake relationships to extract money and personal information from their victims. In one instance, they stole over $120,000 from a victim in the Eastern District of North Carolina.
The FBI and US Attorney’s office worked together to bring Owolabi to justice. According to US Attorney Ellis Boyle, ‘This case shows that if you try to defraud the citizens of the Eastern District of North Carolina, our office will bring you to justice no matter where you are.’ The FBI’s Charlotte Special Agent in Charge, Reid Davis, added that the conviction ‘underscores the FBI’s unwavering commitment to identifying, disrupting, and dismantling international fraud and money laundering networks who target victims across the United States.’.
Chief Judge Myers sentenced Owolabi to 15 years in prison, determining that he was a leader or organizer within an extensive organization and had caused substantial financial hardship to victims. The sentence reflects the severity of the crime and the impact it had on the victims.
Related Federal Cases
- Vivek Ramaswamy Rejects VP Offer, Focusing on Presidential Ambition… · New York
- Wall Street Firms, Financial Malfeasance, New York NY, 2023 · Washington
- Rico Tomas Garcia, Hand Sanitizer Scam, CO, 2023 · Washington
- Kenneth Thom Admits $2M Investment Scam, Manhattan NY, 2023 · New York
- Michael Smith, AI-Generated Song Fraud, Manhattan NY, 2023 · North Carolina
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Defendant: North Carolina
- Location: NC
- Source: DOJ Press Release
