A United Kingdom-based Nigerian man, Olamide Shanu, 34, is facing prosecution in Idaho, America after being extradited to the United States for alleged sextortion and fraud.
The announcement was made in a statement issued by the Department of Justice on September 18, 2025.
Shanu was formally arraigned on Wednesday, September 17, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Debora K. Grasham.
Acting United States Attorney Justin Whatcott slammed Shanu with an eight-count charge bordering on aggravated identity theft, wire fraud conspiracy, cyberstalking and conspiracy to commit interstate communications with intent to extort.
Other charges included conspiracy to commit extortion, money laundering conspiracy, and extortion.
The police arrested Shanu in London, United Kingdom, on November 7, 2023, and remained in custody since then.
Shanu and his conspirators allegedly posed as women on social media and lured their victims, mostly males, to send sexual images of themselves.
Once the suspect received the images, he would circulate them among his conspirators, who would then threaten to send the explicit images to the victims’ friends and families unless the victim sent money.
The suspect and his conspirators allegedly extorted numerous victims across the United States, including a college student in Idaho.
Money realised from the illicit act was allegedly laundered, using peer-to-peer payment applications.
The suspects also used several cryptocurrency wallet addresses from where they transferred the proceeds to their Nigeria-based conspirators.
Shanu is accused of fraudulently obtaining at least $2,000,000 from the fraud schemes.
He faces up to 20 years in federal prison if found guilty of the charges.
Shanu would also be requested to return part of his loot to the victims of the scheme.
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