US authorities have sentenced Nigerian national and US resident Jabin Godspower Okpako to 87 months in jail for laundering mail and wire fraud proceeds of over $1.89 million. Okpako and his wife Christine Bradley Okpako laundered the illicit funds through several bank and wire transactions in various US states. Thereafter, they transferred the funds to three Nigeria-based bank accounts.
The mail and wire fraud scheme targeted US-based female victims in the 55 to 85 years age group. The victims were active on websites and apps like Facebook, Instagram, Words with Friends, and WhatsApp. The conspirators befriended the victims through text and instant messaging on these apps. Later, they coerced the victims to transfer funds for various fake reasons, such as to help an injured friend, to purchase an apartment in Washington, D.C., to repair equipment on an oil drilling rig, to pay for medication, etc. Okpako’s conspirators then guided the victims to send checks and cash to the Okpakos at their Pennsylvania-based home address.
The Okpakos continued to send fraud proceeds to Nigeria, in spite of several banks closing their accounts due to suspicious activity. In fact, even after receiving a formal warning from the FBI, the Okpakos continued laundering the illicit proceeds. Now, Jabin Okpako must make a restitution of $440,950 to the victims and forfeit all the illicit funds. Meanwhile, his wife Christine, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit ML through mail and wire fraud on March 31, 2021, is yet to be sentenced.
Source: US Department of Justice