A federal jury in the United States has delivered a guilty verdict against a Nigerian national for his central role in multiple cyber fraud operations that targeted American citizens.
The Conviction and Charges
Saheed Sunday Owolabi, a 34-year-old Nigerian man, was convicted on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The verdict was announced by the United States Attorney, Ellis Boyle, in a Department of Justice press release on Wednesday, November 26, 2025.
Attorney Boyle emphasized the severe impact of such crimes, stating, "Fraud schemes like this drain millions from hardworking people in our communities. We will continue to work with our federal partners to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who abuse the anonymity of the internet to enrich themselves by stealing from our citizens."
How the Romance Scam Operated
According to evidence presented during the trial, Owolabi engaged in a classic romance scam by pretending to be a woman online. He built fraudulent relationships with men across the United States to gain their trust.
He and his network of co-conspirators used these fake online relationships to manipulate victims into sending money and revealing sensitive personal information. The criminals then used the bank accounts provided by these victims to launder proceeds from other illicit activities.
Court documents reveal that Owolabi participated in a scheme that successfully stole and laundered more than $120,000 from a single victim in the Eastern District of North Carolina. The operation also defrauded hundreds of other individuals.
The Pandemic-Era Home Closing Fraud
In a particularly audacious move during the COVID-19 pandemic, the fraudsters intercepted information about a pending real estate transaction. They sent spoofed emails to the victim, posing as legitimate parties involved in the home closing, and instructed the victim to transfer the funds to a bank account they controlled.
When the victim complied, the money was routed to accounts connected to Owolabi and his associates. Owolabi then directed others on how to move and distribute the illicit funds, ensuring a portion was sent to himself.
Investigators uncovered chat messages in which Owolabi admitted to running a romance scam. In an ironic twist, he discovered he was actually communicating with another fraudster who mocked his techniques and told him to "learn how to do a clean job."
Sentencing and Legal Proceedings
Saheed Sunday Owolabi now awaits his sentencing, scheduled for January 2026. He faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and three years of supervised release.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad DeVoe, with the investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
