Onijah Crighton, Advance Fee Scheme, Maryland 2023

Greenbelt, Maryland — A 57-Month Prison Sentence for Advance Fee Scheme

Onijah Crighton, a 23-year-old resident of Chillum, Maryland, has been sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for his role in an advance fee scheme that targeted over 100 elderly victims and resulted in losses of almost $400,000.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland, Crighton and his co-conspirators targeted vulnerable individuals with false claims of winning lottery or sweepstakes prizes, demanding taxes or other fees before the victims could receive their supposed winnings. The scheme involved hundreds of contacts with the victims, convincing them to send payments totaling over $112,000.

Crighton's sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis and includes three years of supervised release following his prison term. Additionally, Crighton is required to pay restitution in the full amount of the victims' losses.

The investigation into Crighton's activities was led by the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, working together with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland.

Crighton's actions are a stark reminder of the importance of protecting vulnerable populations from financial exploitation. 'Criminals like Onijah Crighton target vulnerable individuals with these types of advance fee schemes,' said U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur. 'Our law enforcement partners are committed to prosecuting and deterring elder fraud schemes like this one.'

The case is part of the Department of Justice's Elder Justice Initiative, which aims to protect older Americans from physical, emotional, and financial abuse. Through this initiative, the Department has aggressively prosecuted mass mailing fraud schemes and launched regional Elder Justice Task Forces across the country to combat elder financial fraud.

Crighton's sentence serves as a warning to those who would seek to exploit vulnerable individuals for financial gain. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors who work tirelessly to bring these individuals to justice.

In this case, the defendant's crimes include conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. The sentence was announced on April 25, 2023, and Crighton was ordered to pay restitution in the full amount of the victims' losses, which is $396,157.

The full name of the defendant is Onijah Crighton, and he is a resident of Chillum, Maryland. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis, and Crighton is required to serve 57 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. The investigation into Crighton's activities was led by the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, working together with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland.

As part of his sentence, Crighton is required to pay restitution in the full amount of the victims' losses, which is $396,157. This amount represents the total losses suffered by the victims as a result of Crighton's advance fee scheme.

The case serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting vulnerable populations from financial exploitation. It highlights the need for continued vigilance and cooperation among law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and the public to prevent and prosecute elder financial abuse.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/pr/fraudster-sentenced-57-months-federal-prison-scamming-elderly-victims-almost-400000