A Nigerian man residing in Texas has been formally charged in the United States for his alleged involvement in a fraudulent scheme that prosecutors claim used romance scams and counterfeit government invoices to steal more than $300,000 from a US government agency.
Indictment Details and Charges
The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a federal grand jury has indicted 45-year-old Okeoghene Patrick Udugba, a resident of Frisco, Texas, on charges of money laundering and conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud. The indictment was returned as part of a broader federal investigation into transnational fraud networks.
According to US Attorney Brian D. Miller, Udugba and his alleged co-conspirators used dating websites and social media platforms to establish fake romantic relationships with victims. These victims were then persuaded to act as money mules by receiving and cashing fraudulently obtained cheques.
How the Scheme Operated
Investigators further alleged that the group sent spoofed emails from Nigeria while pretending to represent the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). The emails falsely claimed that the recruited money mules were contractors and consultants who had completed work on government-funded projects. Authorities stated that the agency's grant administrator approved payments exceeding $300,000 after receiving the fake invoices.
The case was investigated by multiple federal agencies, including the FBI, the US Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Department of the Interior Office of Inspector General. Prosecutors emphasized that this case is part of a wider federal effort to combat transnational fraud networks.
Potential Penalties and Presumption of Innocence
If convicted, Udugba faces up to 30 years in federal prison, supervised release, and a fine. However, the US Attorney's Office noted that "an indictment is merely an allegation," and Udugba "is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court."
In a related case, Legit.ng earlier reported that a US court sentenced Geoffrey Auyeung to five years in prison for laundering proceeds from a $97.1 million investment fraud linked to cryptocurrency accounts. Prosecutors said that scheme channeled funds through dozens of bank accounts before transferring cryptocurrency to Binance accounts allegedly controlled by individuals based in Nigeria and Russia.
