Nigerian Okechukwu Iwuji, along with two accomplices, has been sentenced to prison for engaging in an advance fee and money laundering scheme exceeding $2 million.
Shawn Anderson, a representative from the US Attorney’s Office in Guam, revealed that Iwuji, aged 38, and his co-conspirators deceived investors in Guam into paying fabricated fees for a substantial inheritance. The trio received fraudulent gains totaling around $2.6 million.
The other convicts, Sally Roberto (56) from Santa Rita and Monique Jones (49) from Dallas, Texas, were handed their sentences this week.
Iwuji, a Nigerian citizen who had previously lived in Orlando, Florida, received a 45-month prison term, followed by three years of supervised release. Additionally, he was ordered to pay $475,710 in restitution, a $100 mandatory assessment fee, and a forfeiture money judgment of $475,710. Iwuji had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
“This widespread conspiracy victimized 60 individuals, the majority of whom reside in Guam,” stated Anderson in a release from the US Attorney’s Office. He emphasized the challenge of investigating and prosecuting such scams due to their interstate and international nature. He praised the collaborative efforts across multiple jurisdictions and vowed to continue pursuing restitution for the victims.
As part of the scheme, Iwuji acquired at least $475,710 from victims, which he then transferred to Nigerian bank accounts held by third parties.
Sally Roberto received a 33-month prison sentence, three years of supervised release, and was required to pay $1,030,990 in restitution. Monique Jones was sentenced to 36 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $387,160 in restitution. Lastly, Monique received a 48-month prison term, three years of supervised release, and was directed to pay $578,130 in restitution.
Special Agent Steven Merrill of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) emphasized the agency’s commitment to closely monitoring similar cases and ensuring that offenders face legal consequences. He highlighted that this sentencing serves as a warning that inheritance-related advance fee scams will be investigated thoroughly and prosecuted rigorously.
Merrill concluded with a reminder, “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”