A 32-years old Nigerian citizen, residing in Atlanta Olufolajimi Abegunde, on Tuesday was sentenced to 78 months in prison for his role in an international cyber fraud scheme.
His apprehension was announced by Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant of the Western District of Tennessee.
Mr Abegunde and Javier Luis Ramos-Alonso, 29, were convicted in March after a seven-day trial in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee.
Messrs Abegunde and Ramos-Alonso participated in a criminal organization in which members “spoofed” emails and created fake profiles on dating websites in order to fool victims into sending money to bogus bank accounts under the control of members of the conspiracy.
The proceeds would be laundered and subsequently wired out of the United States to destinations including West Africa.
The organization as a whole is believed to have caused more than $10,000,000 in damage to U.S. citizens and businesses.
