Two Nigerians based in the United States, Chijioke Timothy Odimegwu and Harafat Mogaji, have been sentenced to a combined 189 months in federal prison for their roles in an international cyber fraud scheme that defrauded businesses of more than $2.4 million.
The two men, who were residents of Delaware and members of the US Air Force at the time of the offences, were sentenced on September 25, 2026, after being convicted for their roles in the scheme.
According to a statement by the Public Information Officer for the US Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Iowa, MacKenzie Tubbs, Odimegwu and Mogaji and their co-conspirators targeted businesses across the United States for nearly two years using email-spamming and phishing campaigns.
The group allegedly stole usernames and passwords from employees’ email accounts and used the credentials to facilitate fraudulent transactions.
They also allegedly created spoofed email addresses that mimicked those of businesses and their partners, enabling them to communicate with victims and redirect payments into accounts controlled by the conspiracy.
More than $1.68 million in a wire transfer from a victim in Iowa City was allegedly diverted to a Chicago bank account controlled by the group. Another $720,000 sent by a victim in Ohio was also allegedly diverted.
Investigators said the pair were involved in several other attempts to redirect wire transfers from businesses in Iowa and elsewhere in the United States.
The defendants also allegedly harvested financial information, including bank account details, personal identification numbers and credit and debit card information.
Some of the stolen information was reportedly purchased from co-conspirators and later exchanged among members of the group.
According to prosecutors, the stolen financial details were used or targeted for unauthorised transactions and purchases.
Odimegwu was sentenced to 111 months in prison and ordered to pay $366,617.59 in restitution, while Mogaji received 78 months and was ordered to pay $995,680.45 in restitution.
Both men were taken into custody following sentencing and will each serve an additional three years of supervised release after completing their prison terms.