Authorities in the US have commenced the prosecution of a Nigerian nationwide, Olamide Shanu, who was extradited from the UK over his alleged position in cyber-enabled schemes involving sextortion, romance scams, and wire fraud by means of which he “obtained at the very least $2 million.”
The U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace introduced that Shanu, 34, of Lagos, Nigeria, made his preliminary courtroom look on Wednesday earlier than U.S. Justice of the Peace Choose Debora Okay. Grasham within the District of Idaho. Appearing U.S. Lawyer Justin Whatcott disclosed the event in a press release final week.
Shanu faces an eight-count indictment together with wire fraud conspiracy, aggravated identification theft, conspiracy to commit interstate communications with intent to extort, cyberstalking, conspiracy to commit extortion, cash laundering conspiracy, extortion, and interstate communications with intent to extort.
Authorities in London had arrested Shanu on November 7, 2023, based mostly on the indictment filed in Idaho, and he had remained incarcerated within the UK till his extradition to the U.S.
In line with courtroom paperwork, Shanu and his accomplices allegedly posed as ladies on social media platforms to lure male victims into sending sexually express photographs. The indictment additional alleges that after obtained, the conspirators threatened to launch the pictures to pals and kinfolk until the victims paid cash.
The indictment claims that the scheme focused quite a few victims throughout the U.S., together with a university scholar in Idaho. It additional alleges that the group additionally engaged in romance scams, laundering the proceeds by means of peer-to-peer cost platforms and cryptocurrency wallets earlier than transferring funds to Nigeria.
Prosecutors say Shanu fraudulently obtained at the very least $2 million by means of the schemes.
If convicted, he faces as much as 20 years in federal jail and could also be required to pay restitution to the victims.
Appearing U.S. Lawyer Whatcott expressed appreciation to the U.S. Division of Justice’s Workplace of Worldwide Affairs, the U.S. State Division, and the UK’s Nationwide Crime Company for his or her help within the arrest and extradition.
“We’re grateful for the worldwide cooperation that introduced the defendant earlier than justice,” he acknowledged.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the Boise Police Division, with prosecution being led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittney Campbell and Sean Mazorol, alongside Laptop Crime and Mental Property Part (CCIPS) Trial Lawyer Vasantha Rao.
Prosecutors emphasised that an indictment is barely an allegation and that each one defendants stay presumed harmless till confirmed responsible past an inexpensive doubt in a courtroom of regulation.
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