PA Man Okorie Convicted in $100K+ Cybercrime Laundering Scheme

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Toochukwu Michael Okorie, 46, of Bristol, Pennsylvania, is facing up to a decade behind bars after a federal jury found him guilty of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The verdict, delivered after three days of testimony before U.S. District Court Judge L. Scott Coogler, exposes another link in the chain of criminals profiting from devastating cyber fraud schemes.

Okorie wasn’t a newcomer to this game. Court records reveal a prior conviction in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in 2011 for wire fraud and money laundering. Yet, between June 2017 and May 2019, he allegedly leveraged two shell companies – TMO Consulting LLC and Collective Intelligence Forensics LLC – to wash hundreds of thousands of dollars in illicit funds. Victims of business email compromise, romance scams, and other frauds, including those right here in the Northern District of Alabama, unknowingly funded his operation.

The scheme was simple, but effective. Wire transfers from defrauded victims flowed into Okorie’s accounts. He and his co-conspirators then shuffled the money between various bank accounts, a classic tactic to obscure its origins and mask its fraudulent nature. Once a commission was skimmed off the top, the remaining funds were either wired to bank accounts in Nigeria or used to purchase vehicles destined for overseas shipment. This isn’t just about numbers on a screen; it’s about real people losing their life savings to callous criminals.

U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona made it clear: “This conviction shows that juries see through money launderers’ attempts to disguise the movement of fraud proceeds as legitimate business transactions.” She vowed continued prosecution of those who facilitate the flow of dirty money, especially repeat offenders. FBI Special Agent in Charge Carlton Peeples echoed the sentiment, stating that individuals involved in money laundering are “a significant role in the circle of criminal activity which continues to plague our communities.”

Okorie isn’t the only one facing consequences. Paulinus Ebhodaghe, 40, of Clementon, New Jersey, received a 37-month prison sentence on January 20, 2022, for his involvement in the conspiracy. Ohimai Asikhia, 37, of Glassboro, New Jersey, was sentenced to 18 months. The FBI led the investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service Cyber Fraud Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Edward J. Canter and John M. Hundscheid are prosecuting the case.

The maximum penalty for conspiracy to commit money laundering is 10 years in federal prison. This case serves as a stark reminder that those who profit from the misery of others will be held accountable. For resources on cybercrime prevention and reporting, visit www.ic3.gov. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and expose the individuals preying on vulnerable citizens.