A United States federal court has sentenced a Nigerian national, Saheed Sunday Owolabi, to 15 years in prison for orchestrating a large-scale romance fraud and money laundering scheme that targeted victims across the U.S.
The sentencing was handed down in Wilmington, North Carolina, by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II, following Owolabi’s conviction for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina, the defendant and his accomplices defrauded victims of more than $1.5 million, laundering the proceeds to Nigeria through a network of accounts.
U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle said the conviction sends a strong warning to fraudsters targeting Americans, stressing that law enforcement authorities would pursue offenders regardless of their location.
Investigators revealed that Owolabi operated a romance scam, posing as a woman online to establish relationships with unsuspecting men in the United States.
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Through these deceptive interactions, he manipulated victims into sending money and sensitive financial information.
Authorities said the scheme extended beyond romance fraud, as victims’ bank accounts were also used to funnel illicit funds from other fraudulent operations.
In one instance, more than $120,000 was stolen from a single victim in the Eastern District of North Carolina.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which led the investigation, described the operation as part of a sophisticated international fraud network.
Charlotte-based Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis noted that the case highlights the global reach and complexity of cyber-enabled financial crimes.
During sentencing, prosecutors presented evidence showing Owolabi’s leadership role in the criminal network, as well as images recovered from his phone indicating lavish spending of stolen funds.
Officials said the case forms part of ongoing efforts by U.S. authorities to dismantle transnational fraud syndicates and protect vulnerable individuals from financial exploitation.
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