Two US-based Nigerians jailed 15 years for $2.4m fraud

Chijioke Timothy Odimegwu and Harafat Mogaji, both US-based Nigerians, have been sentenced to a combined 15 years in federal prison for their involvement in a $2.4 million fraud scheme. The two were convicted of engaging in an international cyber intrusion scheme that targeted businesses across the country using email spamming and phishing campaigns.

According to the Public Information Officer, MacKenzie Tubbs, the pair stole usernames and passwords from victim's employee email accounts, and used "spoofed" email addresses to communicate with victims and redirect payments to accounts controlled by the conspiracy. Odimegwu received a 111-month sentence along with $366,617.59 in restitution, while Mogaji was sentenced to 78 months in prison with $995,680.45 in restitution. Both are required to serve three years of supervised release after completing their prison terms.