Nigerian pleads guilty to defrauding 150 Americans in $2.5m sextortion scam

Olamide Shanu, a 35-year-old Nigerian man, pleaded guilty in the United States on Monday to conspiracy to commit money laundering. The charges stem from his participation in sextortion and romance fraud schemes that defrauded approximately 150 Americans, according to a statement from the US Department of Justice. The schemes generated over $2.5 million in illicit proceeds, which were laundered through various channels before being transferred to co-conspirators in Nigeria, reported the DOJ.

Shanu targeted male victims typically, convincing them to send sexual images, threatening to expose them if money was not paid. The conspirators also lured older women and men through romance scams, establishing fake identities on social media to build relationships before requesting financial assistance. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva stated that the department established the Cyber-Enabled Scam Initiative to combat such international schemes and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The US Attorney for the District of Idaho, Bart M. Davis, emphasized that the guilty plea demonstrated efforts to prosecute cybercriminals, regardless of their location. Shanu faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and his sentencing is scheduled for December 15.