A Nigerian national, Lotenna Chisom Umeadi, 35, has pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud in a United States federal court, admitting his role in an international cyber fraud scheme that led to the loss of $158,400.

This is according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III and Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HIS).

Umeadi reportedly admitted in court that he purchased a compromised webpage from a hacker, which he then used to gain illegal access to the email passwords of unsuspecting individuals. With this access, the Nigerian targeted employees of a produce export company based in Sri Lanka.

Posing as a legitimate representative of the Sri Lankan company, Umeadi sent fraudulent emails to a produce importer in Plattsburgh, New York. The emails, which appeared to come from the exporter, instructed the importer to transfer payments owed to the Sri Lankan company into bank accounts in the United Kingdom that were under Umeadi?s control.

As a result of the scheme, in 2016, the Plattsburgh-based importer wired two payments, totalling $158,400, to the UK accounts.

Following an extensive investigation, Umeadi was arrested in Germany on September 1, 2024, upon arrival from Nigeria. He was later extradited to the United States to face charges.

Umeadi now faces severe penalties, including a maximum of 20 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. The US court has fixed his sentencing for July 21, 2025.

A U.S. District Court judge will determine the final sentence based on statutory guidelines, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, and other relevant factors. Upon completing his prison term, Umeadi will face removal from the United States. (The Guardian)

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