The U.S. Department of Justice announced that Nigerian national Olamide Shanu pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering for his role in international sextortion and romance fraud schemes. The schemes defrauded approximately 150 American victims, caused millions of dollars in losses and generated more than USD 2.5 million for Shanu. Shanu and his co-conspirators extorted victims after persuading them to share sexual images and used false social media identities to induce others, typically older adults, to send money through deceptive romantic relationships. The proceeds were laundered through peer-to-peer payment applications and cryptocurrency wallets before being transferred to co-conspirators in Nigeria. Shanu was extradited from Nigeria and is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 15, when he faces a maximum prison term of 20 years.
2026-09-22U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Department of Justice secures guilty plea in cyber fraud scheme involving more than USD 2.5 million in proceeds
The U.S. Department of Justice secured a guilty plea from Nigerian national Olamide Shanu for conspiracy to commit money laundering in international sextortion and romance fraud schemes. The schemes targeted approximately 150 American victims and generated more than USD 2.5 million for Shanu. He faces up to 20 years in prison at sentencing on Dec. 15.