US Court Sentences Nigerian Man to 15 Years in Prison for Romance Scam Wire Fraud and Money Laundering

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A US federal court has sentenced a Nigerian national, Saheed Sunday Owolabi, to 15 years in federal prison for his leading role in a romance scam scheme that defrauded victims in the United States and laundered over $1.5 million to Nigeria.

Owolabi was convicted by a jury in the US District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Chief Judge Myers handed down the sentence on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Wilmington, North Carolina.7aab8d

According to the US Department of Justice, Owolabi and his co-conspirators targeted American victims through online romance scams. He pretended to be a woman to build emotional relationships with men in the US, eventually convincing them to send money under false pretenses. The proceeds—totaling more than $1.5 million—were laundered and transferred to Nigeria.9b00e3

In delivering the sentence, the judge noted that Owolabi acted as a leader or organizer in an extensive criminal organization. He engaged in sophisticated money laundering techniques and caused substantial financial hardship to the victims. Prosecutors described him as a central figure who orchestrated the fraud and moved illicit funds across borders.ce4abc

The case highlights ongoing US efforts to combat international cyber-enabled fraud schemes, often referred to in Nigeria as “Yahoo Yahoo” or romance scams, which exploit trust through fake online personas.

No details on restitution or forfeiture were immediately specified in initial reports, though such orders are common in these cases. Owolabi, described in some Nigerian media as a “Yahoo boy,” will serve his term in a US federal prison, followed likely by supervised release and possible deportation proceedings afterward.

This sentencing comes amid several recent high-profile convictions of Nigerian nationals in US courts for similar wire fraud and money laundering activities.

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