The United States Department of Justice has announced that Nigerian national Edwin Okoronkwo, 36, sentenced to 75 months in federal prison for his involvement in a “catfishing” scheme that defrauded multiple Americans will be deported after serving his term.
Okoronkwo’s wife, Julie Okoronkwo, was also implicated in the fraudulent activities and received a 25-month prison sentence.
The couple, both lawful permanent residents of the U.S. residing in Nebraska, used stolen identities to impersonate high-ranking U.S. military officials, deceiving victims into sending money under false pretences.
To enhance the credibility of their scams, Julie Okoronkwo contacted victims via phone, further convincing them of the legitimacy of their fabricated stories.
She also misused her position at a hospital to obtain personal identification information, including Social Security numbers and driver’s license details, which were then utilized in the fraudulent activities.
The fraudulent funds were typically sent through the United States Postal Service and other carriers such as FedEx and UPS.
Upon completion of their prison terms, both individuals will be subject to supervised release—three years for Edwin and two years for Julie—before their deportation.
Additionally, they have been ordered to pay restitution to their victims, totaling $342,535 for Edwin and $337,535 for Julie.
