Nigerian National Indicted on Federal Charges for Multi-State Fraud Schemes

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania has announced the indictment of Okeoghene Patrick Udugba, a 45-year-old resident of Frisco, Texas, on charges of money laundering and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud. The indictment stems from a Homeland Security Task Force investigation into intricate romance and business email compromise schemes that allegedly defrauded a federal agency.

According to the indictment, Udugba and his alleged co-conspirators employed a multifaceted approach to defraud individuals and a government entity. The schemes reportedly involved utilizing social media and dating websites to cultivate fraudulent romantic relationships with unsuspecting individuals across various states. These individuals were then allegedly manipulated into becoming money mules, tasked with receiving and cashing checks obtained through illicit means. The conspiracy’s efforts to acquire these fraudulent checks involved sending emails that mimicked those from official United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) representatives, originating from spoofed addresses in Nigeria.

These deceptive communications purportedly directed the recipients to use FWS grant funds to pay fabricated invoices. The invoices falsely claimed that the money mules were legitimate contractors and consultants who had performed work on grant-eligible projects. This elaborate deception reportedly resulted in the FWS grant administrator issuing payments totaling more than $300,000. The investigation into these alleged fraudulent activities was a collaborative effort involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Department of the Interior Office of Inspector General.

The prosecution of this case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Sarah R. Lloyd and is part of the broader Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative. The HSTF, established by Executive Order 14159, aims to combat criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking operations within the United States and internationally. This initiative emphasizes a government-wide partnership to dismantle these organizations through robust interagency collaboration. The HSTF directs federal law enforcement resources toward identifying, investigating, and prosecuting a wide range of crimes perpetrated by these groups, with a particular focus on those involving child trafficking and other crimes affecting children. The task force also leverages all available means to prosecute and remove violent criminal aliens from the United States. The constituent agencies of the HSTF include the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Department of the Interior (DOI) Office of Inspector General (OIG).

The Department of Justice also announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division earlier this year, which is dedicated to investigating and prosecuting individuals involved in fraudulent activities targeting Americans. This initiative supports broader governmental efforts to combat fraud, waste, and abuse within federal benefit programs. If convicted, Udugba faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, followed by a term of supervised release and a fine. Any sentence imposed will be determined by a judge after considering federal sentencing statutes and guidelines. It is important to note that all individuals charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Pennsylvania.

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