A Nigerian national has entered a guilty plea on multiple counts related to a well-orchestrated romance scam that swindled United States citizens out of over $400,000, the Justice Department reported on Thursday. Daniel Chima Inweregbu, 40, from Lagos, Nigeria, faced federal charges including conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud as well as money laundering, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Inweregbu's romance scam involved creating fake online profiles to lure unsuspecting victims with the promise of companionship, exploiting their affection for financial gain. Operating under the alias "Larry Pham," Inweregbu and his accomplices engaged middle-aged American women, using social media and dating sites to begin their deceitful pursuits. The U.S. Attorney's Office detailed how the scheme reached its climax by convincing victims to send money to various domestic bank accounts managed by the conspirators.
Lasting from July 2017 to December 2018, the plot was more than just a play on emotions, resulting in actual and intended financial losses totaling over $405,000. The victims were manipulated into sending funds under various guises, which were then laundered by Inweregbu and his team, masking the criminal origins of the money, the authorities explained, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Following the guilty plea, Inweregbu now faces significant time behind bars, with possible penalties including up to twenty years in prison and hefty fines reaching up to $500,000 for the money laundering counts alone. Sentencing, as officials scheduled, will occur on December 4, before United States District Judge Nanette Jolivette Brown. Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson commended the collaborative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Justice Office of International Affairs, and the Department of State in bringing Inweregbu to justice, as obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The case serves as a sobering reminder of the vulnerability of those seeking connection online, and the importance of vigilance in the digital age. Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit, is leading the prosecution which underscores the resolve to prosecute fraudsters preying on U.S. citizens.
