Nigerian “Putsammy” arrested in U.S. on romance‑scam charges, faces 40‑year jail term

Samuel Ugberaese, the Nigerian internet fraud suspect popularly known as “Putsammy” or “Putput,” has been arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States after being extradited from Nigeria on charges linked to a cross‑border romance‑scam scheme. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Ugberaese is now in custody in North Carolina while he awaits trial in the Eastern District of North Carolina (EDNC).

The extradition followed a years‑long investigation into a transnational fraud network that targeted victims in the United States and other countries through online dating platforms and social media. The U.S. authorities have emphasized that the indictment remains an allegation and that Ugberaese is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

Charges and potential sentence

Ugberaese was indicted in January 22, 2021, by a federal grand jury in the EDNC on two felony counts: conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The charges allege that he and his co‑conspirators used romantic ruses, false identities, and fabricated life stories to manipulate victims into wiring large sums of money, often under the guise of helping with emergencies, travel, or business opportunities.

The indictment also alleges that Ugberaese conspired with Oluwadamilare Kolaogunbule, a naturalized U.S. citizen, to process illicit funds through bank‑account networks—including accounts linked to purported export companies—in order to conceal the source, ownership, and control of the criminal proceeds. If convicted on both counts, Ugberaese faces a statutory maximum penalty of up to 40 years in prison, in addition to fines and possible asset forfeiture.

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Lavish lifestyle and social‑media reaction

Meanwhile, old photos and videos from Ugberaese’s extravagant 2018 wedding have resurfaced on Nigerian social media, drawing widespread attention and criticism. The footage shows fleets of luxury cars, designer outfits, and opulent reception decor, which many users now interpret as possible evidence of the wealth generated from the alleged fraud.

The resurfaced wedding material has sparked online debate about how large‑scale internet fraud has enabled some perpetrators to flaunt conspicuous consumption, even as victims in the U.S. and elsewhere report losing life savings to romance‑scam schemes. Authorities have used the case to warn the public about the sophistication of such scams and the risks of trusting strangers who request money over online relationships.

Wider context of Nigerian‑linked romance fraud

Ugberaese’s case comes amid a broader wave of prosecutions of Nigerians involved in romance‑scam and wire‑fraud schemes targeting elderly and vulnerable victims abroad. In December 2025, two other Nigerians were sentenced to over 13 years in U.S. prison for jointly running a romance‑scam network that contributed to the death of an elderly American victim.

With several high‑profile cases landing Nigerian suspects in U.S. courts, law‑enforcement agencies on both sides of the Atlantic are stepping up cooperation on extradition, cyber‑crime investigations, and financial‑knowledge‑sharing to combat cross‑border internet fraud. The “Putsammy” case is now seen as another example of how glamorized online personas can mask large‑scale criminal enterprises.