By Faith Adama
A Nigerian national, Samson Omoniyi, along with eight others, faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted on charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the indictment on Wednesday, detailing that Omoniyi and his co-defendants are accused of laundering millions of dollars through fraudulent activities, including internet scams and business email compromises.
The group is said to have operated a sophisticated network since at least November 2016, laundering over $20 million across Tennessee, Texas, and beyond.
The defendants allegedly used front companies and “money mules” to hide the illicit funds.
If convicted, each could face a maximum of 20 years in federal prison, though sentencing will be determined by a federal judge.
The Department of Justice emphasized that the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
In a related case, two Nigerian nationals were sentenced to 30 years in prison for defrauding U.S. citizens of $3.5 million through romance and inheritance scams.
These cases highlight U.S. efforts to combat financial crimes.
