A 35-year-old Nigerian national, Olamide Shanu, has pleaded guilty in the United States to his role in an international fraud operation that allegedly targeted about 150 Americans and generated more than $2.5 million in illicit proceeds.
Shanu entered his guilty plea before a federal court in the District of Idaho to conspiracy to commit money laundering, following his extradition to the United States from the United Kingdom in 2025.
According to the US Department of Justice, Shanu and his co-conspirators operated two related schemes involving romance fraud and extortion, with proceeds allegedly laundered through cryptocurrency wallets and peer-to-peer payment platforms before being transferred to Nigeria.
In the extortion scheme, the suspects allegedly targeted male victims by establishing contact with them and persuading them to share private images.
The victims were subsequently threatened with having the images sent to relatives, friends and other contacts unless they paid money.
At least one of the alleged victims was based in Idaho.
The romance fraud operation allegedly involved the use of fabricated identities on social media to establish emotional relationships with victims, many of whom were older men and women.
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After gaining their trust, the suspects allegedly created fake emergencies or financial needs and persuaded victims to send money.
US authorities said the funds were subsequently moved through digital payment platforms and cryptocurrency channels as part of efforts to conceal their origin before being transferred to Nigeria.
Shanu’s guilty plea was announced by the US Department of Justice on September 22, 2026.
He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 15, 2026.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division said the case exposed an international operation that exploited victims through extortion and romance fraud while laundering millions of dollars in criminal proceeds.
US Attorney Bart M. Davis for the District of Idaho said the prosecution demonstrated the commitment of American authorities to pursuing cyber-enabled criminals regardless of where they operate.
The case was investigated by the US Secret Service and Boise Police Department, with assistance from the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, the US State Department and authorities in the United Kingdom.
The final sentence will be determined by a federal district court based on the US Sentencing Guidelines and other applicable statutory considerations.
