Connect with us

Crime

Two Nigerians Receive 20-Year U.S. Prison Terms For $560,000 Romance Scam

Published

on

Akwa Ibom Court Jails Man 10 Years For Selling 6-Year-Old Cousin

The U.S. court has sentenced two Nigerian nationals, Olutayo Sunday Ogunlaja, 39, and Abel Adeyi Daramola, 37, to up to 20 years in prison for masterminding a $560,000 romance scam that defrauded a victim in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

U.S. Attorney Alexander Uballez and FBI Albuquerque Field Office Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda announced the convictions after a federal jury found both men guilty following a four-day trial.

READ MORE: UK Extends ETAS To US, Canada, Australia

The federal jury took less than three hours to deliberate before finding the pair guilty of wire fraud and conspiracy.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office revealed that Ogunlaja and Daramola, along with other accomplices, initiated the scheme in January 2016 by creating a fake identity, “Glenn Brown,” on the dating website eHarmony.com.

Using this fabricated persona, they developed a romantic relationship with the victim and manipulated them into transferring large sums of money.

“Throughout the fraud, the victim was led to believe that their financial assistance was necessary for ‘Glenn Brown’ to complete a purported construction project in Malaysia and return safely to the United States,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office stated.

Between January 2016 and April 2017, the victim sent approximately $560,000 to accounts in the United States, Canada, and Malaysia. On September 27, 2016, the victim wired $28,000 to an account in the name of “Daramola Cars” at Woodforest Bank.

Court documents showed that Daramola transferred $18,000 of these funds to a seafood importer in Denmark and issued a $14,000 check.

Daramola denied involvement in the scam, but evidence obtained from text and WhatsApp messages on his phone revealed his role in supplying bank accounts used to launder fraudulent funds.

Ogunlaja’s involvement was similarly uncovered, with prosecutors presenting evidence that his Bank of America account was used to receive funds from the victim.

According to the FBI, “Glenn Brown” instructed the victim to deposit $20,000 in cash into Ogunlaja’s account on two occasions in March 2016. Ogunlaja then withdrew the funds and transferred them to Daramola’s account.

“This case demonstrates the lengths fraudsters will go to exploit the vulnerable,” said Special Agent Raul Bujanda. “We will continue to pursue justice for victims of financial crimes.”

 

 

Click to comment
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Crime

Wife Dies in Ogun House Fire as Police Take 56-Year-Old Husband Into Custody

Published

on

Man Arrested For Burglary In Ogun Churches

The Ogun State Police Command has taken a 56-year-old man, Madarikan Emehinola, into custody in connection with a suspected arson incident that claimed the life of his 40-year-old wife, Igbagbo Erobe, in the Igbo-Edu area of Ogun Waterside Local Government Area.

The incident was reported at the Abigi Divisional Police Headquarters on Sunday, October 18, 2026, following information that a house had been set ablaze, resulting in the woman’s death.

SEE ALSO: Tinubu vs Obi: Omokri Fires Back at Peter Okoye Over Call to Retire Older Politicians

The Ogun State Police Command disclosed the development in a press release issued on Sunday, stating that the husband was in custody in connection with the incident.

The deceased’s body has been deposited at a mortuary for post-mortem examination to establish further details surrounding her death.

The police also disclosed that the case was being processed for transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.

The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, CP Bode Ojajuni, psc, FCSS, MNIPR, assured the public that the matter would be investigated diligently and professionally in accordance with the law.

According to the statement, the commissioner assured the public that “the matter will be investigated diligently and professionally in accordance with the law.”

Ojajuni reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, stressing that allegations of serious crimes would receive appropriate investigative attention.

The command also called on members of the public to report suspicious activities promptly and provide credible information that could assist crime prevention and ongoing investigations.

“The Command urges members of the public to report suspicious activities promptly and provide credible information that may assist crime prevention and ongoing investigations,” the statement read.

The circumstances surrounding the fire and the alleged involvement of the husband remain subject to investigation.

 

 

 

Continue Reading

Crime

NDLEA Arrests 85-Year-Old Woman With 179kg of Cannabis in Edo

Published

on

Edo Cult Clash Leave 10 Dead In Three Days

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested an 85-year-old woman, Grace Ehimeka, after recovering 179 kilogrammes of skunk from her during anti-drug operations in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State.

Ehimeka was among six suspects arrested during raids conducted by NDLEA operatives in the area as part of a series of nationwide operations targeting illicit drugs.

The operations in Edo State also led to the recovery of another 220.8 kilogrammes of skunk, alongside smaller quantities of cannabis and other controlled substances.

ALSO READ: Edo Police Probe Officer Seen Firing Rifle During Clash With Traffic Officials

The arrest was one of several recorded during the agency’s nationwide operations, which resulted in major drug seizures across multiple states.

In Lagos, the NDLEA seized 8,725 kilogrammes of tramadol hydrochloride powder worth over ₦6.98 billion at Apapa Port. The shipment, which originated from India, had been declared as maize starch.

The agency also intercepted cannabis concealed in palm oil at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport. The consignment was allegedly intended for Saudi Arabia, while two suspects were arrested in connection with the case.

In Ondo State, operatives destroyed an estimated 7,500 kilogrammes of skunk cultivated on three hectares of farmland and arrested five suspects.

Other seizures were recorded in Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory, including large quantities of tramadol, Exol-5 tablets and cannabis.

The operations formed part of the NDLEA’s ongoing efforts to disrupt the trafficking and distribution of illicit drugs across the country.

 

Continue Reading

Crime

Bandits Kill 70-Year-Old Man in Katsina, 27 Victims Rescued

Published

on

A 70-year-old man, Alhaji Saleh Kasim, has been killed during a bandit attack on Gamji Village in Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State, while 27 abducted residents have been rescued by security forces.

The Katsina State Government disclosed this in a press release issued on Saturday by the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr Nasir Mu’azu.

According to the statement, about 40 armed bandits, led by a suspected gang leader identified as Kachalla Alhaji Bawa Kabir, invaded the community in the early hours of October 16, 2026.

SEE ALSO: Two Suspected Bandits in Police Net in Katsina

The attackers reportedly arrived on 20 motorcycles, abducted 27 residents, mostly women, children and elderly people, and rustled six cows.

The government said Kasim was shot dead during the attack.

Following credible intelligence, troops of the 17 Brigade, working with local hunters and the Community Watch Corps, moved to block the attackers’ escape routes towards the Madaci forest enclave.

At about 6 p.m. on the same day, the troops engaged the bandits at Tashar Bawa forest and successfully rescued all 27 abducted residents.

The rescued victims were subsequently taken to the Machika Military Forward Operating Base for medical attention.

The statement added that joint security teams had commenced clearance operations to flush out the remaining members of the gang and prevent possible reprisal attacks on the community.

The Katsina State Government, under Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, reaffirmed its commitment to protecting residents across the state.

Mu’azu commended the troops and community-based security groups for their swift response to the incident.

Continue Reading

Copyright © 2022. Biztellers, powered by Alphaxristi.

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x