A Nigerian man, Edwin Okoronkwo, will be deported after completing a 75-month prison sentence for his involvement in a sophisticated “catfishing” scheme and identity theft.
Okoronkwo, 36, was sentenced in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, on January 29, 2025, after being convicted for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft.
According to a statement from United States Attorney Susan T. Lehr, after serving his sentence, Okoronkwo will be placed on a three-year supervised release and deported by immigration authorities.
He was also ordered to pay restitution of $342,535.00 to seven victims affected by his fraudulent activities.
Okoronkwo, a lawful permanent resident of the United States, and his wife, Julie Okoronkwo, ran a scheme in which they used fake online personas to manipulate victims into sending money.
In some instances, the Okoronkwos claimed to be high-ranking members of the U.S. military stationed overseas, gaining the trust of their victims.
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The couple would convince victims to send money through mail and commercial carriers like FedEx and UPS, using false social media accounts.
They also exploited victims’ personal identifying information (PII) to open bank and online financial accounts, including on platforms like PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, and Cash App.
Through these accounts, they transferred money into their own personal bank accounts or cryptocurrency platforms, and in some cases, the funds were sent overseas to Nigeria via wire transfers.
Julie Okoronkwo, who also played a significant role in the scheme, was sentenced to 25 months in prison on January 10, 2025.
She had used her position at a hospital to access the victims’ sensitive personal information, including social security numbers and driver’s licenses, further advancing their fraudulent activities.
