ALEXANDRIA, VA – Two Maryland men are facing up to two decades behind bars after a federal jury found them guilty of laundering over $13 million stolen from businesses nationwide through a complex Business Email Compromise (BEC) scheme. Onyewuchi Victor Ibeh, 33, of Mitchellville, and Jason Eugene Joyner, 42, of Hyattsville, were convicted yesterday on charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering itself.
The scheme, detailed at trial, involved infiltrating victim companies’ computer systems – often through phishing or malware – and then impersonating trusted business partners. Conspirators would then falsely claim that bank account details had changed, redirecting legitimate payments intended for the real partner into accounts they controlled. Prosecutors presented testimony from five victim businesses who were directly impacted by the fraud.
Jason Joyner’s role was the dirty work: physically withdrawing the fraudulently obtained funds in cash and delivering it to other members of the conspiracy, including Onyewuchi Ibeh. Ibeh, the alleged architect of the laundering operation, managed a network of bank accounts – opened under various names and arrangements – to funnel the money both domestically and internationally. The operation wasn’t about need; Ibeh reportedly used the stolen funds to purchase luxury items, including a custom jewelry piece valued at nearly $40,000.
This wasn’t a solo operation. Ibeh and Joyner worked alongside Anthony Ayeah and Mouaaz Elkhebri, both of whom have already been convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering related to the same scheme. Federal investigators meticulously traced the flow of funds, connecting dozens of bank accounts and revealing the extent of the criminal enterprise. The U.S. Secret Service, along with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, led the investigation.
“The defendants and their co-conspirators laundered over $13 million,” stated Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, following the verdict. “This case demonstrates the serious consequences for those who facilitate the financial backbone of these devastating cybercrimes.” While the maximum penalty for both Ibeh and Joyner is 20 years in prison, the final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge on November 4, 2022, taking into account sentencing guidelines and other relevant factors.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Hood, Russell Carlberg, and Elizabeth Bagwell are prosecuting the case. The conviction serves as a warning: while BEC schemes are sophisticated, law enforcement is increasingly adept at tracing the money and bringing the perpetrators to justice. Court documents related to the case, 1:21-cr-200, are available on PACER and the websites of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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