US begins prosecution of Nigerian extradited from UK for $2 million fraud, sextortion

Authorities successful the United States person commenced the prosecution of a Nigerian national, Olamide Shanu, who was extradited from the United Kingdom implicit his alleged relation successful cyber-enabled schemes involving sextortion, romance scams, and ligament fraud done which helium “obtained astatine slightest $2 million.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that Shanu, 34, of Lagos, Nigeria, made his archetypal tribunal quality connected Wednesday earlier U.S. Magistrate Judge Debora K. Grasham successful the District of Idaho. Acting U.S. Attorney Justin Whatcott disclosed the improvement successful a connection past week.

Shanu faces an eight-count indictment including ligament fraud conspiracy, aggravated individuality theft, conspiracy to perpetrate interstate communications with intent to extort, cyberstalking, conspiracy to perpetrate extortion, wealth laundering conspiracy, extortion, and interstate communications with intent to extort.

Authorities successful London had arrested Shanu connected November 7, 2023, based connected the indictment filed successful Idaho, and helium had remained incarcerated successful the UK until his extradition to the U.S.

According to tribunal documents, Shanu and his accomplices allegedly posed arsenic women connected societal media platforms to lure antheral victims into sending sexually explicit images. The indictment further alleges that erstwhile obtained, the conspirators threatened to merchandise the images to friends and relatives unless the victims paid money.

The indictment claims that the strategy targeted galore victims crossed the U.S., including a assemblage pupil successful Idaho. It further alleges that the radical besides engaged successful romance scams, laundering the proceeds done peer-to-peer outgo platforms and cryptocurrency wallets earlier transferring funds to Nigeria.

Prosecutors accidental Shanu fraudulently obtained astatine slightest $2 cardinal done the schemes. 

If convicted, helium faces up to 20 years successful national situation and whitethorn beryllium required to wage restitution to the victims.

Acting U.S. Attorney Whatcott expressed appreciation to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, the U.S. State Department, and the UK’s National Crime Agency for their assistance successful the apprehension and extradition. 

“We are grateful for the planetary practice that brought the suspect earlier justice,” helium stated.

The lawsuit was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the Boise Police Department, with prosecution being led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brittney Campbell and Sean Mazorol, alongside Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) Trial Attorney Vasantha Rao.

Prosecutors emphasized that an indictment is lone an allegation and that each defendants stay presumed guiltless until proven blameworthy beyond a tenable uncertainty successful a tribunal of law.

Vanguard News

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