Nigerian Romance Scammer Gets 15 Years in US Prison for $1.5M Fraud

RALEIGH, North Carolina – A Nigerian national who posed as a woman online to dupe lonely American men has been handed a 15-year federal prison sentence for orchestrating a massive romance scam and money-laundering operation.

Saheed Sunday Owolabi, 29, was convicted by a jury last year on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II imposed the stiff penalty on Friday in federal court in Raleigh, citing Owolabi’s role as a key leader in a sprawling criminal network that victimized people across the United States.

Operating from Nigeria, Owolabi and his accomplices built fake romantic relationships with men via social media and dating apps. They preyed on trust, coaxing victims into wiring money for fabricated emergencies—like medical bills or travel costs—and handing over bank details. The gang laundered over $1.5 million through these accounts, with one Eastern North Carolina victim alone losing more than $120,000. Federal investigators uncovered evidence on Owolabi’s seized phone showing him flaunting luxury purchases funded by the stolen cash, from designer clothes to high-end gadgets.

Judge Myers emphasized the operation’s sophistication during sentencing, noting its international scope and the “substantial financial hardship” inflicted on victims, many of whom were elderly or isolated. Owolabi was arrested in Nigeria in 2023 following a joint U.S.-Nigerian probe and extradited to face trial.

“This case shows that if you try to defraud the citizens of the Eastern District of North Carolina, our office will bring you to justice no matter where you are,” declared U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle. “Cheaters never win.”

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FBI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis echoed the resolve: “This conviction underscores the FBI’s unwavering commitment to dismantling international fraud networks. Together with our partners, we will pursue anyone targeting Americans and ensure they face justice in U.S. courts.”

The investigation was led by the FBI, with prosecution handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad DeVoe. Romance scams like Owolabi’s have surged in recent years, with the FBI reporting over $1 billion in U.S. losses in 2024 alone—often funneled back to West Africa via mules and cryptocurrencies.

Owolabi will serve his term in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. The case serves as a stark reminder amid rising cyber fraud: U.S. authorities are closing in on scammers hiding overseas.