Osakpamwan Henry Omoruyi, 37, and Osaretin Godspower Omoruyi, 36, both Nigerian nationals formerly residing in Canton, Massachusetts, were convicted by a federal jury in Boston on Wednesday over fraud schemes that targeted victims across the United States.
“Their crimes included pandemic unemployment assistance fraud, romance scams, and other online deception schemes,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Following an eight-day trial, the pair were each found guilty of one count of bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris ordered the defendants into federal custody pending sentencing, which is scheduled for September 22, 2023. The two were originally charged by criminal complaint in March 2021.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, “the defendants used fraudulent foreign passports to open multiple bank accounts under fake identities. These accounts were then used to collect and move proceeds from various scams committed by their co-conspirators.”
“Most of the illicit funds stemmed from romance scams,” where fraudsters assume fake online personas to gain victims’ trust and affection, then manipulate them into sending money under the guise of a romantic relationship. Between 2019 and 2021, the defendants received over $1.7 million in proceeds and transferred most of it overseas.
“The charges of bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud each carry a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, a fine of up to $1 million or twice the gross gain or loss—whichever is greater—and forfeiture. The money laundering conspiracy charge carries up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $500,000 fine or twice the value of the criminal proceeds, and forfeiture.” Sentences will ultimately be determined by a federal district judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
The convictions were announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy, along with officials from the FBI, Department of Labor OIG, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher J. Markham and Benjamin A. Saltzman of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit.
