Three Nigerians Charged In U.S. Over Alleged R0mance, Wire Fraud Scheme
Three Nigerians Charged In U.S. Over Alleged Romance, Wire Fraud Scheme
The defendants, identified as William Elvis, 35; Moses Kolawole Hezekiah, 34; and Destiny Okobeni Oghentega, 30, are each facing “one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud,” according to court filings released in connection with the case.
Three Nigerian nationals have been charged in a United States federal court in Rhode Island over their alleged involvement in an online romance and wire fraud scheme that targeted unsuspecting victims, including an elderly resident.
The defendants, identified as William Elvis, 35; Moses Kolawole Hezekiah, 34; and Destiny Okobeni Oghentega, 30, are each facing “one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud,” according to court filings released in connection with the case.
Details contained in the court documents indicate that “beginning in or around early 2021, Elvis, Hezekiah, Oghentega, and others engaged in a scheme to defraud individuals through online impersonation and romance-based scams.”
Investigators say the suspects, alongside other collaborators who are yet to be named, allegedly orchestrated a coordinated effort to deceive victims by assuming false identities across various digital platforms.
The scheme reportedly involved contacting victims and “falsely portray[ing] themselves as professionals working overseas,” gradually building trust through sustained communication.
Authorities noted that over time, the suspects developed close emotional relationships with their targets, a tactic commonly associated with romance scams designed to exploit vulnerability.
Once trust had been established, the conspirators allegedly began making “repeated requests for money under false pretenses,” citing various fabricated circumstances.
These included “claims of financial hardship, legal issues, or medical emergencies,” all designed to elicit sympathy and financial assistance from victims who believed they were helping someone they cared about.
According to investigators, victims were instructed to transfer funds through multiple channels, including “gift cards, Bitcoin transactions, and other means,” as well as direct transfers to accounts allegedly controlled by members of the scheme.
These methods, authorities said, made it more difficult to trace and recover the stolen funds.
The court documents further revealed that “victims sent substantial sums of money over the course of the scheme,” highlighting the financial magnitude and impact of the alleged fraud on those affected.
An investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) found that “the identities used were misappropriated, used without the individuals’ knowledge,” suggesting that real individuals’ personal information may have been stolen and exploited as part of the deception.
Authorities also stated that “communications and financial activity were traced to the defendants in Nigeria,” linking the suspects to the alleged operations and financial flows.
Despite the charges, authorities emphasised that “a federal criminal indictment is merely an accusation” and that “a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty,” in line with the principles of the U.S. justice system.
The case is currently being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John P. McAdams, while the investigation was carried out by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The matter is expected to proceed through the federal court system in Rhode Island.
