Nigerian Extradited to US Faces 40-Year Sentence for Romance Scam

A Nigerian man extradited from Lagos to the United States last week is now facing up to 40 years in a federal prison, accused of running a cross-border romance scam that defrauded multiple American women.

The suspect, Samuel Ugberaese, was handed over to US authorities by the Nigeria Police Force following the conclusion of extradition proceedings. He was arrested by the FBI immediately upon arrival in the country.

Court documents allege that between 2014 and 2018, Ugberaese and his accomplices operated a criminal syndicate specifically targeting women in the Eastern District of North Carolina. The group is accused of using elaborate false stories and fake promises of romance to manipulate victims into sending money.

The investigation revealed that Ugberaese worked with a co-defendant, a naturalized US citizen named Oluwadamilare Kolaogunbule, who allegedly used a network of bank accounts linked to fake export companies. These accounts were designed to conceal the origin, location, and ownership of the stolen funds.

A federal grand jury first indicted the suspect on charges of wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy in January 2021. If convicted on both counts, Ugberaese faces a statutory maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

The Nigeria Police Force confirmed that its investigations uncovered a sophisticated network that exploited victims between 2014 and 2018. The case continues to highlight ongoing cooperation between Nigerian and American law enforcement agencies in combating international cybercrime.

The suspect remains in US custody and is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.