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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Three indictments returned by a federal grand jury sitting in Charleston have been unsealed that charge 9 males for their involvement in illegal schemes alleged to have defrauded at the very least 200 victims, a lot of whom are elderly, of not less than $2.5 million. The nine defendants are charged with varied fraud-associated crimes, together with mail Fraud Investigation Switzerland, wire fraud, cash laundering and receipt of stolen property. As of in the present day, all nine of the defendants have been apprehended in operations executed by the United States Secret Service and different federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in seven states.

In line with the indictments, from 2016 to 2020, the defendants allegedly participated in a series of romance and other on-line scams designed to coerce weak victims into sending cash to varied financial institution accounts managed by them. The indictments describe romance scams as online schemes that target people searching for romantic partners, friendship, and other shut private and enterprise relationships on dating web sites and other social media platforms. The defendants created profiles using fictitious names, areas, and pictures which allowed them to cultivate relationships with the victims. To carry out the schemes alleged in the indictments, victims have been often led to consider that the defendants were U.S. residents working abroad. However, the investigation revealed that these defendants had been truly positioned within the United States. At the early phases of the romance scams, defendants ceaselessly requested relatively small gifts, equivalent to reward playing cards and cell telephones from their victims. As the relationships continued, they requested increasingly larger sums of money from their victims. The defendants allegedly opened financial institution accounts and laundered the proceeds of the romance scams by way of these accounts. The defendants also sometimes used cryptocurrency and celeb meet-and-greet scams to obtain cash from their victims.

“This investigation and subsequent indictments reveal the commitment the United States Attorney’s Office and our regulation enforcement companions have in aggressively pursuing those who interact in on-line fraud scams and prey on weak members of our communities,” stated Acting United States Lawyer Lisa G. Johnston. “Crimes involving romance scams and other online scams are increasing at an alarming fee. This case is a reminder that users of e mail, texts and social media ought to be aware of such scams and train extreme caution.”

“The Secret Service is committed to defending our nation’s financial institutions and the citizens of West Virginia,” said United States Secret Service Resident Agent in Charge Robert W. Pyle. “While this doesn’t undo the hurt that was brought upon each sufferer, we really feel that our investigative efforts make sure that those that dedicated this fraud will likely be held accountable. We’d also prefer to thank the West Virginia State Police, the South Charleston Police Department, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the FDIC-OIG for their cooperation and partnership in this case.”

The following people were charged in the indictments:

– Kenneth Emeni, 29, a citizen of Nigeria, residing in Martinsburg, West Virginia;

– John Nassy, 27, a citizen of Nigeria, residing in a suburb of Washington, D.C.;

– Kenneth Ogudu, also referred to as Kenneth Lee, 28, a citizen of Nigeria, residing in Columbus, Ohio;

– Oluwagbenga Harrison, 30, a citizen of Nigeria, residing in Stone Mountain, Georgia;

– Romello Thorpe, 25, a United States citizen, residing in Washington, D.C.;

– Ouluwabamishe Awolesi, also known as Oluwabamise Johnson, 28, a citizen of Nigeria and the United States, residing in Beltsville, Maryland;

– Augustine Amechi, 24, a citizen of Nigeria, residing in Huntington, West Virginia;

– Banabas Ganidekam, 24, a citizen of Ghana, residing in Westerville, Ohio; and

– Abdul Osumanu, 26, a citizen of Ghana, residing in Omaha, Nebraska.

The United States Secret Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation-Workplace of Inspector Common (FDIC-OIG), the West Virginia State Police, the South Charleston Police Division and the United States Attorney’s Workplace for the Southern District of West Virginia performed the long-time period investigation that spanned approximately two years.

The general public is encouraged to report potential on-line fraud exercise or scams at https://www.ic3.gov/.

When you or somebody you recognize is age 60 or older and has been a victim of monetary fraud, assistance is standing by on the Nationwide Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Division of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by skilled professionals who provide personalized help to callers by assessing the needs of the sufferer, and figuring out relevant next steps. Case managers will establish acceptable reporting companies, provide data to callers to assist them in reporting, join callers directly with applicable businesses, and supply sources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities determine those that commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses as a consequence of fraud as quickly as possible can enhance the chance of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed 10am-6pm Eastern Time, Monday-Friday. English, Spanish, and different languages are available.

The main points contained within the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and till proven responsible beyond an inexpensive doubt in a court of law.

A duplicate of this press launch is situated on the web site of the U.S. Attorney’s Workplace for the Southern District of West Virginia. Associated courtroom documents and knowledge could be found on PACER by looking for Case Nos.