A 45-year-old Nigerian, Okeoghene Patrick Udugba, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in the United States over his alleged role in romance and business email compromise schemes that defrauded the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of more than $300,000.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced on Wednesday that Udugba, of Frisco, Texas, faces charges of money laundering, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud.
According to U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller, the indictment alleges that Udugba and others orchestrated overlapping schemes in which they used social media and dating websites to meet and establish purported romantic relationships with persons in multiple states.
Prosecutors said those persons were groomed and later used as “money mules” to receive and cash fraudulently obtained checks.
