A Nigerian man, Uche Diuno, has been sentenced to five years in prison by a United States District Court for his role in a fraud scheme targeting victims in over 20 countries.
The US Justice Ministry revealed this in a statement posted on its website on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. The Ministry stated that after completing his jail term, legal proceedings would commence to deport the 57-year-old.
According to the statement, Diuno participated in a scam where fraudsters abroad enticed victims with false promises of millions in investment funding and inheritances. These fraudsters, posing as executives and employees of top US banks, deceived victims into making payments to secure purported investment and money transfer agreements. The scheme’s leaders in Nigeria then laundered these payments through US bank accounts.
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“Diuno admitted to using multiple aliases to convince victims the scam was authentic. He also confessed to his role in laundering victim funds,” the statement read.
“Following instructions from the scheme’s leader, Diuno directed a co-conspirator to disburse victim funds after receiving them.
“From October 2014 to September 2018, Diuno and his co-conspirators caused losses of nearly $5.7 million.
On February 1, 2024, Diuno pleaded guilty to prosecutors’ fraud-related charges. He expressed regret for his actions and the significant financial and emotional harm he caused to victims of the scheme.
