Two Nigerian Ex-US Airmen Sentenced to 15 Years for Cyber Fraud

Two Nigerians who previously served in the United States Air Force have been sentenced to a combined 15 years and nine months in prison for their involvement in an international cyber fraud scheme.

According to a statement from the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa, Chijioke Odimegwu, 25, and Harafat Mogaji, 26, both residents of Delaware, were sentenced last Friday.

Court documents revealed that the two men and their accomplices spent nearly two years targeting businesses across the United States, using fraudulent methods to obtain confidential information and divert payments.

The defendants allegedly used stolen credentials and spoofed email addresses that appeared to belong to victims or their business partners. They then redirected business payments into bank accounts controlled by members of the conspiracy.

The scheme diverted more than $1.68 million in a wire transfer sent by a victim in Iowa City to a bank account in Chicago. They also allegedly diverted more than $720,000 sent by an Ohio victim.

Investigators said the pair also fraudulently obtained sensitive financial information, including bank account numbers, identification numbers, and credit and debit card details.

Odimegwu was sentenced to 111 months in prison and ordered to pay $366,617.59 in restitution, while Mogaji received 78 months in prison and was ordered to pay $995,680.45 in restitution.

Both men were taken into custody after sentencing. Upon completing their prison sentences, they will each serve three years of supervised release.

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