Storytimes Newspapers

  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...

  Bishop Emanuel Shaleta (also referred to as Emmanuel Shaleta or Emanuel Hana Shaleta), leader of the Chaldean Catholic Eparchy of Saint Peter the Apostle in San Diego, pleaded not guilty on Monday to multiple felony charges related to the alleged theft of church funds. The 69-year-old bishop appeared in El Cajon Superior Court for his arraignment, where he entered a not guilty plea to eight counts of embezzlement, eight counts of money laundering, and one count of aggravated white-collar crime enhancement. Prosecutors allege that Shaleta embezzled approximately $270,000 (with some reports citing figures up to $420,000 or $250,000–$270,000) from St. Peter Chaldean Catholic Cathedral in El Cajon over an eight-month period. The scheme reportedly involved a rent scam and misuse of donated funds intended for the congregation. The charges stem from an investigation triggered by a church accountant discovering discrepancies in the finances. The San Diego County Sheriff's Office arrested...