Uwemedimo Umoren, Laundering, New York 2021

Uwemedimo Umoren, a Georgia man, has been accused of laundering millions of dollars in a Nigeria-based fraud scheme.

The indictment, announced by U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, alleges that Umoren was a member of a multimillion-dollar fraud enterprise that targeted elder adults across the United States.

According to the indictment, the Enterprise, based in Nigeria, committed a series of business email compromises and investment and romance scams against individuals and businesses located across the United States.

The objective of the Enterprise’s business email compromise fraud scheme was to trick and deceive businesses and individuals into wiring funds into accounts controlled by the Enterprise through the use of email accounts that “spoofed” or impersonated employees of a victim company or third parties engaged in business with a victim company.

Umoren received fraud proceeds from victims of the Enterprise in more than a dozen business bank accounts that he controlled in Georgia. The business bank accounts were opened in the names of companies formed by the defendant that were purportedly involved in, among other things, automobile sales and health care.

From in or about 2016 through at least in or about December 2021, Umoren controlled at least 15 bank accounts that received deposits totaling over approximately $8 million.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said, “Uwemedimo Umoren, as alleged, was a member of a multimillion-dollar fraud enterprise built on the cruel exploitation of elder adults.” Williams also thanked the United States Secret Service for their continued vigilance in the effort to protect elder Americans from fraud.

The defendant is facing charges related to his role in the fraud and money laundering conspiracy. The exact charges against Umoren are not specified in the press release.

Uwemedimo Umoren, 35, was previously arrested in Georgia on December 17, 2021.

Related Federal Cases