Two Nigerians Jailed 15 Years In US Over $2.4m Cyber Fraud Scheme

Two Nigerian men, Chijioke Timothy Odimegwu and Harafat Mogaji, have been sentenced to a combined 189 months in federal prison in the United States for their involvement in an international cyber fraud scheme that targeted businesses and non-profit organisations.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa announced the sentences in a statement issued by the Department of Justice on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.

Odimegwu, 25, and Mogaji, 26, were sentenced on Friday, September 25, after being linked to a nearly two-year cyber fraud operation. Both men were members of the United States Air Force at the time of the offences.

According to court documents and evidence presented during sentencing, the defendants and their co-conspirators targeted businesses across the United States through email spam and phishing campaigns designed to obtain usernames and passwords for employees’ email accounts.

The stolen credentials were allegedly used alongside spoofed email addresses designed to resemble communications from the victims or their trusted business partners. The scheme was then used to redirect business payments into bank accounts controlled by members of the conspiracy.

Investigators established that more than $1.68 million in a wire transfer from a victim in Iowa City, Iowa, was fraudulently redirected to a Chicago bank account allegedly controlled by the conspiracy.

The defendants were also linked to the diversion of another wire transfer worth more than $720,000 from a victim in Ohio to an account controlled by the group.

Authorities said these transactions were among several attempts made by Odimegwu and Mogaji to divert payments belonging to businesses in Iowa and other parts of the United States.

The cyber fraud operation also involved the alleged collection of sensitive financial information from victims. Investigators said the defendants obtained financial account details, personal identification numbers and credit and debit card information, including information belonging to a non-profit organisation in Pella, Iowa.

The men also allegedly obtained stolen financial information from co-conspirators and exchanged the information among themselves. According to prosecutors, the stolen details were subsequently used or targeted for unauthorised financial transactions and purchases.

Odimegwu was sentenced to 111 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $366,617.59 in restitution. Mogaji received a 78-month prison sentence and was ordered to pay $995,680.45 in restitution.

Both men were taken into custody following their sentencing and will each serve three years of supervised release after completing their prison terms.

The FBI said the case demonstrated the risks posed by cyber-enabled fraud schemes targeting businesses and non-profit organisations. Eugene Kowel, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Omaha Field Office, said law enforcement agencies would continue working to disrupt cybercrime operations and hold those responsible accountable.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Lubben prosecuted the case.