Onyewuchi Victor Ibeh, Jason Eugene Joyner, Laundering Proceeds of a Business Email Compromise Scheme, Virginia 2022

Alexandria, Va. – In a shocking case of financial deception, two men have been convicted of laundering the proceeds of a business email compromise (BEC) scheme that swindled numerous victim businesses out of $13 million.

Onyewuchi Victor Ibeh, 33, of Mitchellville, Maryland, and Jason Eugene Joyner, 42, of Hyattsville, Maryland, were found guilty by a federal jury of conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering, charges that carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

The scheme, which was uncovered by law enforcement, involved the defendants and their coconspirators infiltrating the computer systems of victim companies through phishing attacks or the use of malware, and then impersonating the victim’s business partner to claim the business partner’s bank account information had changed.

Victim businesses, including five who testified at trial, were convinced to send the money to bank accounts controlled by the conspirators, who then laundered the proceeds through various financial transactions using dozens of bank accounts that they directly and indirectly controlled.

Joyner’s role in the scheme was to withdraw the proceeds of the fraud in cash, which he delivered to other conspirators, including Ibeh. Ibeh managed the money laundering by causing conspirators to open bank accounts, which he used to wire money domestically and internationally. Ibeh even spent the proceeds of the fraud on luxury items, including a custom jewelry piece costing close to $40,000.

Ibeh and Joyner conspired with, among others, Anthony Ayeah and Mouaaz Elkhebri, both of whom have also been convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

The verdict was announced by Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; Michael Ray, Inspector in Charge of Cybercrime and National Security of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; and Matthew Stohler, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Washington Field Office, after Senior U.S. District Judge Claude M. Hilton accepted the verdict.

Ibeh and Joyner each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when sentenced on November 4, 2022. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:21-cr-200.

Related Federal Cases