A Nigerian man, Edwin Okoronkwo, has been sentenced to 75 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft in Omaha, Nebraska. Following his prison term, he will be deported, U.S. Attorney Susan T. Lehr announced.

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U.S. District Judge Brian C. Buescher handed down the sentence on January 29, 2025, and ordered Okoronkwo to pay $342,535 in restitution to seven victims. According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice, after his release, he will serve a three-year supervised release period before being deported by immigration authorities.

Online Scams and Identity Theft

Edwin Okoronkwo, a lawful U.S. permanent resident, and his wife, Julie Okoronkwo, orchestrated an online “catfishing” scam, posing as high-ranking U.S. military officials to deceive victims into sending money. They used social media to lure victims and convinced them to transfer funds via the U.S. Postal Service, FedEx, and UPS.

The couple also engaged in identity theft, using stolen personal information—including Social Security numbers and driver’s license details—to open fraudulent financial accounts. Victims unknowingly transferred money through platforms like PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, and Cash App, which the Okoronkwos then funneled into personal bank accounts, fraudulent accounts, and cryptocurrency exchanges. Some funds were sent to Nigeria via international wire transfers.

Julie Okoronkwo, who worked at a hospital, obtained personal identification details from her workplace to further the scam. She also contacted victims by phone to convince them of the scheme’s legitimacy.

Legal Consequences

Julie Okoronkwo was sentenced to 25 months in prison on January 10, 2025. At Edwin Okoronkwo’s sentencing, Judge Buescher described the crimes as a “tragedy for the victims.”

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case, which highlights the growing threat of online financial scams and identity theft schemes.