Foreign National Extradited to Face Charges in $6 Million Fraud Scheme

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A 29-year-old Nigerian national has been extradited from South Africa to the United States to face charges for his alleged role in a $6-million business email compromise (BEC) scheme. James Aliyu is the final defendant among three individuals accused of orchestrating an international fraud and money laundering conspiracy. Federal authorities secured the indictment of all three individuals, who reportedly defrauded victims by manipulating email accounts to divert substantial funds to accounts under their control.

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The scheme, which ran from February 2016 to at least July 2017, involved gaining unauthorized access to personal and business email accounts to send falsified wiring instructions. These instructions were used to deceive victims into transferring funds into “drop accounts” controlled by the perpetrators. Once funds were deposited, conspirators allegedly used various methods, including cash withdrawals and account transfers, to obscure the origins and true ownership of the stolen money. The indictment outlines seven counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.

Two co-conspirators, Kosi Goodness Simon-Ebo, 30, and Henry Onyedikachi Echefu, 31, were extradited from Canada and have already pled guilty. They have since been sentenced for their involvement. Aliyu now faces charges in the U.S. District Court in Maryland, where he could receive up to 20 years in federal prison for each of the counts against him, including wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy.

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U.S. authorities emphasized that indictments are not findings of guilt, and Aliyu, like all defendants, is presumed innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law. Actual sentences, if convicted, are expected to be less than the statutory maximum. This case involved significant international collaboration, including assistance from South African and Canadian authorities, as well as support from multiple U.S. agencies.

Article by multiple RFHC contributors.

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