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