Tochukwu Nwosisi, 52, of Indianapolis, engaged in an advance fee scheme from at least February 2015 to January 2018, which involved deceitful promises of inheritances and investment funds to victims all over the world, according to court documents and evidence produced during the trial.
His Nigerian accomplices tricked victims into sending sizable wire transfers to US bank accounts under the fictitious impression that the bank would not release their funds or inheritance unless the alleged advance fees were paid. As a money launderer, Nwosisi took victim funds into his American bank accounts and sent the money to the Nigerian ringleaders.
Nwosisi was found guilty by the jury of both conspiracy to commit and conceal money laundering. For each count, he may receive a maximum sentence of 20 years in jail. The date of sentencing is still pending.
The United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory considerations will be taken into account by a federal district court judge before determining any punishment.
The United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory considerations will be taken into account by a federal district court judge before determining any punishment.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani for the Southern District of Texas, Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams Jr. of the FBI Houston Field Office, Special Agent in Charge Christopher Hileman of the Department of State Office of Inspector General (DOS-OIG), and Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department's Criminal Division.