The U.S. government has announced the extradition of a Nigerian, Chibundu Anuebunwa, a suspect accused of a multi-million dollar business email compromise scam.
Mr Anuebunwa was extradited from the United Kingdom to face criminal charges in the United States before U.S. Magistrate Katharine Parker, according to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York on Friday.
According to the details of the case already assigned to a U.S. District Judge, Paul Gritty, Mr Anuebunwa would be tried alongside two other Nigerians, David Adindu who was already sentenced to 41 months in jail and co-defendant, Onyekachi Opara, who was previously extradited from South Africa and sentenced to 60 months in prison.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said Mr Anuebunwa’s extradition would serve a message to anyone who believes they can swindle people in the United States from halfway around the world.
He said the U.S. government would continue to work with partners in finding culprits no “matter how long it takes”
“As alleged in the indictment, Chibundu Joseph Anuebunwa tried to steal money from thousands of businesses around the world by impersonating corporate executives and sending phony emails to company employees,” Mr Williams said.
“Today’s (Friday) extradition should serve as a warning to those who think they can defraud victims in the United States from halfway around the world: the United States and its international partners will find you and hold you accountable no matter how long it takes.”
In the indictment unsealed before the Manhattan federal court, the U.S. government accused the trio of Messrs Anuebunwa, Adindu and Opara of committing the crime between 2014 and 2016; by allegedly participating in Business Email Compromise Scams (“BEC scams”) that targeted thousands of victims around the world, including in the United States.
Credit: premiumtimesng.com
