Nigerian tech programmer Sapphire Egemasi, popularly known online as a “tech queen,” has been arrested by the FBI for her alleged involvement in a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme targeting U.S. government agencies.
Egemasi was apprehended in April 2025 in the Bronx, New York, alongside several suspects, including Ghanaian national Samuel Kwadwo Osei, who is reportedly the mastermind behind the cybercrime ring. According to a federal indictment, the syndicate committed acts of internet fraud and money laundering between September 2021 and February 2023.
Court filings accuse Egemasi of designing fake U.S. government websites to capture user login details, which were then exploited to redirect public funds into the syndicate’s control. She also played a key role in laundering the stolen money through various bank accounts.
Investigators revealed that the group successfully diverted $965,000 and $330,000, both stolen from the state of Kentucky, into accounts at PNC Bank and Bank of America in 2022.
Egemasi, who previously resided in Cambridge, UK, is believed to have met members of the fraud network in Ghana before becoming their lead tech operative, working across Nigeria and the United States.
To hide the origin of her income, she allegedly claimed to have interned at well-known companies like BP, H&M, and Zara. On social media, she flaunted a lavish lifestyle, sharing images from trips to luxury destinations like Greece and Portugal, often portraying her wealth as tech-driven success.
Egemasi and her co-accused are currently in custody in Lexington, Kentucky. They face serious charges that could result in up to 20 years in prison, heavy financial penalties, and potential deportation if convicted.
