A Chief U.S. District Judge, Richard E. Myers II, has sentenced a Nigerian man, Saheed Sunday Owolabi, to 15 years in prison for his role defrauding victims from the United States and laundering over $1.5 million.
A jury convicted Owolabi of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Ellis Boyle, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement in a press release issued by the U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
“Who hasn’t suffered some form of the ‘Nigerian Prince’ schemes. Inmate Owolabi, no prince, stole from our vulnerable citizens. This case shows that if you try to defraud the citizens of the Easter District of North Carolina, our office will bring you to justice no matter where you are. Cheaters. Never. Win,” said Boyle.
“This conviction underscores the FBI’s unwavering commitment to identifying, disrupting, and dismantling international fraud and money laundering networks who target victims across the United States. The defendant’s role in coordinating complex cyber-enabled schemes demonstrates both the sophistication and global reach of these criminal enterprises.” said Charlotte Special Agent in in Charge Reid Davis.
