HOUSTON, TX – A brazen scheme targeting Americans with a variety of internet scams has landed a 25-year-old Nigerian national in federal court. Wiseman Oputa, residing in Houston, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, admitting to defrauding victims out of at least half a million dollars. The operation, running from January 1, 2016, to January 25, 2017, relied on a network of deceit and forged identification.
Oputa’s method was chillingly simple: he utilized counterfeit passports – bearing his photograph but under assumed names and identities – to open multiple bank accounts across the greater Houston area. These accounts acted as collection points for funds extracted through a range of online cons, including the increasingly common “business email compromise” attacks, romance scams preying on vulnerable individuals, and unauthorized access to company email accounts. Once the money landed, Oputa, using his fabricated IDs, personally withdrew the ill-gotten gains.
The scope of the fraud is staggering. In one specific instance, during December 2016, Oputa opened an account at Regions Bank using a counterfeit Ghanaian passport. Shortly after, the account received a $40,000 wire transfer from a victim who had been convinced to pay “taxes” on winnings from a supposed Spanish lottery. Thankfully, the quick action of USAA Bank flagged the transaction as fraudulent, and the wire was successfully recalled, preventing the complete loss of funds.
Federal authorities say Oputa worked in concert with others, suggesting a larger criminal network may be at play. The investigation, a collaborative effort between the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of State – Diplomatic Security Service, and the Secret Service, peeled back layers of deception to expose Oputa’s operation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Elmilady is leading the prosecution, determined to see justice served.
U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett accepted Oputa’s guilty plea and has scheduled sentencing for July 6, 2017. Oputa now faces up to 20 years in federal prison, along with a potential fine of up to $250,000. He will remain in custody pending his sentencing hearing. This case serves as a stark reminder of the ever-present threat of online fraud and the lengths criminals will go to exploit unsuspecting victims.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas continues to aggressively pursue these types of financial crimes, aiming to disrupt these networks and bring perpetrators like Wiseman Oputa to justice. Citizens are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities. The details of any co-conspirators are still under seal at this time.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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