Man Jailed For Defrauding  American Of $345,000

A man, Chima Nkwocha, a. k. a “Young Billionaire has been jailed for two years for defrauding an American identified as Linda Wheeler of $345, 000.

Nkwocha was detained after being arraigned before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, on a two-count charge that resembles money laundering and impersonation, according to a statement from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

One of the counts read:” That you, Chima Hyginus Nkwocha (AKA Frank Nils, Frank Cobert, Frank Brown &amp, Chettot), sometime in 2022 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did fraudulently impersonate Frank Nils, Frank Cobert, Frank Brown, and Chiress Riffatt on Gmail and Google Voice using the Gmail addresses]email&nbsp, protected] and]email&nbsp, protected] with intent to defraud, fraudulently obtaining a cumulative sum of Three Hundred and Forty-Five Thousand Dollars ($345, 000) from Linda Wheeler, an American, and receiving the naira equivalent through Ginux Global Nigeria Limited with account No. 1228782493 domiciled in Zenith Bank, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 22 (2) of the Cyber Crimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 and punishable under Section 22 (4) of the Act. “

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The defendant admitted guilt when the charges were read to him, according to the EFCC. Following his guilty plea, prosecution counsel, Lanre Adeola Olanrewaju, reviewed the case against Nkwocha, and prayed the court to convict him accordingly.

Following information from the EFCC’s Advanced Fee Fraud Section, the convict was detained in the Lugbe area of Abuja in August 2024, according to Olanrewaju.

A black Mercedes ML 350 with registration number was among the items recovered during his arrest. B-2 and Chassis no. 4JGDA5HB9DA105827, two gold necklaces with pendants, one gold bracelet, $2, 200 cash, N90, 280, 934.00 in the Ginux Global Nigeria Ltd Zenith Bank (account no. 1228782493), for which Nkwocha was the sole signatory.

A three-bedroom terrace duplex at Cookies Court 2, 2nd Avenue, Ocean Palm Estate, Ogombo, Sangotedo, Ajah, Lagos, a three-bedroom bungalow and two self-contained apartments situated on Plot B023, Standard Estate, Galadima, Abuja, and a plot of land measuring about 300 square meters at Eko Beach City, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, two Zenith Bank drafts worth N5, 000, 000 and N3, 000, 000, dated September 12, 2024, and October 17, 2024, were also recovered from him.

Additionally, an iPhone 13 Pro Max, a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, and a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra were retrieved.

Nkwocha also confessed to impersonating Frank Nils, Frank Cobert, Frank Brown, and Chiress Riffatt using Gmail and Google Voice to defraud Wheeler.

He opened the Zenith Bank account of Ginux Global Nigeria Ltd., receiving the naira equivalent. Olanrewaju tendered several pieces of evidence, including the defendant’s extrajudicial statements, electronic devices, and forensic investigation reports, among others.

The court accepted all of the evidence as exhibits, and the defense made no objections. Justice Nwite, satisfied with the EFCC’s submissions, &nbsp, found Nkwocha guilty.

He was given a two-year prison sentence with the option of a N2, 000,000 fine. Additionally, the court ordered the forfeiture of the following items, being proceeds of crime, to the Federal Government of Nigeria: a black Mercedes Benz ML 350, gold jewellery and $2, 200 cash, N90, 280, 934.00 in the Ginux Global Nigeria Ltd Zenith Bank account, &nbsp, properties in Lagos, Abuja, and Lekki, the Zenith Bank drafts and the electronic devices recovered from the convict.

“Nkwocha’s journey to the correctional facility began when he was detained for internet fraud. He was detained and entered a guilty plea to two of the charges brought against him.

Source: Channels TV