Nigerian National Pleads Guilty for Role in Conspiracy to Launder Millions from Business Email

[TexasTowelie]

Nigerian National Pleads Guilty for Role in Conspiracy to Launder Millions from Business Email Compromise Fraud


In Austin this afternoon, a Nigerian National formerly residing in San Antonio and Austin pleaded guilty to his role in a Business Email Compromise (BEC) fraud conspiracy that laundered millions of dollars, announced U.S. Attorney John F. Bash; Special Agent in Charge Shane Folden, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), San Antonio; and, Inspector in Charge Adrian Gonzalez, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Houston Division.

Appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew Austin, 31-year-old Chibuzor Stanley Uba pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. By pleading guilty, Uba admitted to conspiring with others to collect funds by defrauding U.S. and foreign victims through BEC schemes.

Uba’s co-defendants include fellow Nigerian Nationals: Bameyi Kelvin Omale, a 32-year-old resident of Houston; Nnamdi Nwosu, a 32-year-old resident of Houston; Chinonso Agbaji, a 30-year-old resident of Houston; and, Igho Calaba, a 25-year-old resident of Austin. Omale, Agbaji and Calaba have all pleaded guilty to the money laundering conspiracy charge and are awaiting sentencing. Uba, Omale, Agbaji and Calaba face up to 20 years in federal prison. Nwosu remains a fugitive in this case.

According to the indictment in this case and court records, Uba and his codefendants were also conspiring with Joseph Odibobhahemen and Nosa Onaghise. Odibobhahemen and Onaghise, who were charged in a separate indictment, have previously pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Court records also reflect that over $10 million was allegedly sent by victims to accounts controlled by the conspirators, who were able to take in excess of $6 million before law enforcement or financial institutions stopped the fraudulent transfers.

Read more: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtx/pr/nigerian-national-pleads-guilty-role-conspiracy-launder-millions-business-email