Seven Nigerian Pickers Arrested In U.S. For Laundering $8 million

Seven Nigerian men have been detained and accused with acting as intermediaries in receiving $8 million in romance scam money from victims of Nigerian Internet scammers known as the Yahoo Boys.

The suspects were identified as Bolanle Christina Odeyale, 39, of Forney, Texas; Oghenemine Jeffrey Agbroko, 34, of Nigeria; Charles Owhonigho Emurotu, 40, of Ontario, Canada; Jimmy Iwezu, 44, of Forney, Texas; Lori Tsoritse, 38, of Nigeria; Christopher Onyedikachi Okereke, 38, of Nigeria; and Rukevwe Solomon Ologban, 44, of Grand Prairie, Texas, from March 2018 through June 2019, working with a group of individuals in the District of Utah, aka the Utah Money Transmitters.

The principal operators of the purported romance scams, known as the “Yahoo boys,” are based in Nigeria.

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The defendants either assisted the Utah Money Transmitters in locating chances to work with Yahoo guys or in transferring the fraud funds from the District of Utah to other locations in the United States or abroad.

Ultimately, the purpose of the money laundering efforts was to send the illicit earnings to the Yahoo lads offshore while paying a portion of the financial benefits to individuals who assisted in moving the monies along the route.

As alleged in the indictment, the Yahoo boys frequently built a bogus online persona and utilised it to develop online interactions with potential scam victims.

Once the Yahoo boys had gained the victims’ trust, they would use false pretences such as the need to purchase a laptop for a college-aged child, the need to repair equipment, pay an emergency medical expenditure, or repay a government obligation.

Many of the victims were older and had lost their life savings, family inheritances, and retirement accounts.

In exchange for their generosity, the victims were frequently assured that the money would be repaid.

The Utah Money Transmitters played a key role in the romance fraud. By operating in the District of Utah, they were able to open accounts at US financial institutions that could be used to collect money from victims and distribute money to co-conspirators while concealing the final destination of the funds, as well as the Yahoo boys’ location and identities.

The defendants have been charged with several federal crimes, including wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, and money laundering conspiracy.

Their first court appearance on the indictment will be set at a later date before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli