Seven Nigerian men have been apprehended and brought before the court for their involvement in receiving $8 million from the victims of notorious Nigerian Internet fraudsters, commonly known as Yahoo Boys. The accused individuals include Bolanle Christina Odeyale, 39, residing in Forney, Texas; Oghenemine Jeffrey Agbroko, 34, based in Nigeria; Charles Owhonigho Emurotu, 40, located in Ontario, Canada; Jimmy Iwezu, 44, also residing in Forney, Texas; Lori Tsoritse, 38, from Nigeria; Christopher Onyedikachi Okereke, 38, also from Nigeria; and Rukevwe Solomon Ologban, 44, residing in Grand Prairie, Texas. Their collaboration spanned from March 2018 through June 2019, during which they worked alongside a group referred to as the Utah Money Transmitters in the District of Utah. The Utah Money Transmitters agreed to assist in laundering money acquired through the romance scheme conducted by the primary operators, the “Yahoo boys,” based in Nigeria.
The accused individuals facilitated the Utah Money Transmitters in sourcing opportunities to collaborate with Yahoo boys or in transferring the fraud proceeds from the District of Utah to various locations within the United States or abroad. The overarching objective of these money laundering endeavors was to transfer the illicit proceeds to the Yahoo boys overseas while providing a portion of the financial gains to those aiding in the process.
According to the indictment, the Yahoo boys typically employed fictitious online personas to engage in online relationships with potential victims. Under false pretenses, such as the need to purchase a laptop for a child in college or to cover emergency medical expenses, they deceived victims, many of whom were elderly, causing them to lose their life savings, family inheritances, and retirement funds. Victims were often promised reimbursement for their generosity.
Integral to the romance scam operation were the Utah Money Transmitters, operating within the District of Utah. They established accounts at U.S. financial institutions to collect funds from victims and distribute them to co-conspirators, thereby concealing the ultimate destination of the funds and the location and identities of the Yahoo boys.
The defendants face a range of federal charges, including wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, and money laundering conspiracy. Their initial court appearance will be scheduled at a later date before a U.S. Magistrate Judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
