US Department of Justice release names of Nigerians, Ghanaians, odas wey dem convict for $215m scam

Federal jury for di United States find two men and one woman guilty of international email hacking scheme wey don defraud ova 1,000 victims of 215 million dollar.

Di court also find 25 defendants wey plead guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy.

Out of di 25 defendants, some of dem na Nigerians and Ghanaians and plenti US citizens dey among dem wey plead guilty say dem do di fraud.

Di US district court do di trial for four days wia dem find say di fraud scheme cut across 47 US states and 19 kontris.

US district court for Ohio say, "Jury convict Oluwafemi Michael Awoyemi, 40, of Romeoville, Illinois; Aruan Drake, 37, of Atlanta, Georgia; and Peter Reed, 35, of Oak Forest, Illinois, of Wire Fraud Conspiracy."

US District Judge James R Knepp II wey preside ova di trial, also convict Awoyemi and Drake for money laundering conspiracy.

How dem take carry out di fraud

According to court documents and evidence wey dem present give di court, di judge find say di convicts dey target individuals, businesses and organisations for di United States.

Dem also find say na Nigerian-linked fraud organisations dey carry out di hacking to commit di fraud.

"Dia objective na to gain access to e-mail accounts by individual users. Di co-conspirator go come monitor di communications, and oda activities of di individual email users to learn about dia business practices and contacts."

Court report say afta dem don gada plenti intelligence about di victim wey dem dey target, di leader of di gang go kon send "fraudulent e-mail to either di hacking victim, or to pesin wey dey communicate wit di hacking victim to request payment".

Di court say becos di fraudsters don dey familiar wit di victims activities, dem go kon write fraudulent emails to ask for payment for legitimate business activities.

"Once members of di conspiracy get payment from victims, conspiracy members go use web of fraudulently created bank accounts and cash transfer systems to launder and distribute di funds," di court report tok.

Dem say $50 million out of di stolen money dey used to buy cashier checks wey dem go present for exchange.

"Di wire transfers by di victims range from tens of thousands, to millions of dollars. For one instance, victim business send $2.7 million to shell company bank account wey anoda conspiracy member dey control."

Di businesses wey dem target dey for New York, California, New Jersey and plenti oda US states including international victims for Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Australia, and oda kontris..

Court don seize different items during di period of investigation.

Di items include $1.2 million worth cashier cheques, cryptocurrency, and cash; Patek Philippe Nautilus watch, $45,000 value; Audemars Piguet Royal Oak watch, $30,000 value; Richard Mille Felipe Massa watch, $140,000 value; and 4,423 square foot residence for Georgia.

List of defendants wey plead guilty

Di US Attorney office release di names and kontris of defendants wey plead guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy: