OMAHA, USA — A Nigerian man, Edwin Okoronkwo, 36, has been sentenced to 75 months in federal prison for his role in an online fraud scheme that exploited victims through social media deception and identity theft.
United States Attorney Susan T. Lehr announced that Okoronkwo was sentenced on January 29, 2025, by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Buescher for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft.
In addition to his prison term, Okoronkwo was ordered to pay $342,535 in restitution to seven victims. Following his release, he will serve a three-year term of supervised release before being deported.
“There is no parole in the federal system,” Lehr stated in her announcement, underscoring the full term Okoronkwo will serve behind bars.
A Web of Deception
Okoronkwo, a lawful permanent resident of the United States, and his wife, Julie Okoronkwo, orchestrated elaborate “catfishing” scams, convincing victims to send money through false social media personas.
They often posed as high-ranking U.S. military officials on overseas missions, using deception to gain victims’ trust and persuade them to transfer funds via the United States Postal Service (USPS) and commercial carriers such as FedEx and UPS.
The couple also engaged in identity theft, stealing personal identifying information (PII) from individuals to open fraudulent bank accounts and financial services accounts, including peer-to-peer digital payment platforms like PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, and Cash App.
Victims of the catfishing scams were instructed to send money to accounts opened under stolen identities.
The funds were then laundered through personal bank accounts, fraudulent accounts, and cryptocurrency platforms, with a portion of the proceeds sent to Nigeria via international wire transfers.
Inside the Operation
Julie Okoronkwo played a critical role in the scheme, directly contacting victims to strengthen the fraud’s credibility.
She also used her position at a Nebraska hospital to steal social security numbers and driver’s license information, further enabling the fraudulent activities.
Julie Okoronkwo was sentenced earlier on January 10, 2025, to 25 months in prison for her involvement.
At Edwin Okoronkwo’s sentencing hearing, Judge Buescher described the case as “truly a tragedy for the victims,” highlighting the severe emotional and financial toll on those deceived.
Investigation and Sentencing
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, which tracked the fraudulent activities spanning digital platforms, bank accounts, and international financial transactions.
Authorities have warned that such scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, urging the public to be vigilant when interacting with individuals online who request financial assistance.
Okoronkwo’s sentencing marks another step in the U.S. government’s continued efforts to combat online fraud and identity theft schemes that prey on unsuspecting victims.
