The sentencing was pronounced by Chief U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith, said the Department of Justice, Eastern District of Virginia.
“Through subterfuge and impersonation, Obinwanne Okeke engaged in a multi-year global business email and computer hacking scheme that caused a staggering $11 million in losses to his victims,” said Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the district.
“Today’s sentence further demonstrates EDVA’s and FBI’s worldwide reach in vigorously pursuing justice on behalf of American victims and others and holding international cybercriminals accountable, no matter where they commit their crimes.”
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According to court documents, Obinwanne Okeke, 33, operated a group of companies known as the Invictus Group based in Nigeria and elsewhere.
From approximately 2015 to 2019, Okeke and others engaged in a conspiracy to conduct various computer-based frauds.
The conspirators obtained and compiled the credentials of hundreds of victims, including victims in the Eastern District of Virginia.
As part of the scheme, Okeke and other conspirators engaged in an email compromise scheme targeting Unatrac Holding Limited, the export sales office for Caterpillar heavy industrial and farm equipment.
In April 2018, a Unatrac executive fell prey to a phishing email that allowed conspirators to capture login credentials.
The conspirators sent fraudulent wire transfer requests and attached fake invoices. Okeke participated in the effort to victimize Unatrac through fraudulent wire transfers totaling nearly $11 million, which was transferred overseas.
Additionally, Okeke engaged in other forms of cyberfraud, including sending phishing emails to capture email credentials, creating fraudulent web pages, and causing other losses to numerous victims.
“The FBI will not allow cyber criminals free reign in the digital world to prey on U.S. companies,” said Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office. “This sentencing demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to working with our partners at the Department of Justice and our foreign counterparts to locate cyber criminals across the globe and bring them to the United States to be held accountable.”
Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith.
from pmnewsnigeria
*He got just 10 years? Wow he must have cut a deal *wink*
So he will be out when he is 43 years old or even faster if he is of good behavior and help them catch others.
He's so lucky on this I must say. Crime never pay.
ReplyDeleteCrime never pays??? Hmmmm... I'm not so sure oh. It's just ill-advised to commit a crime, I know how mch and well it pays most of our politicians, except you dont consider them criminals.
DeleteYes, he cut a deal. And I am sure that some of the monies will be waiting for him when he comes out.
ReplyDeleteExactly
DeleteIf he doesnt snitch on his accomplice, he will be rewarded when he gets out, that's if they hvnt eloped.
DeleteNawa ooooo say no to crime, say no to short cut... Hustle legit, one day e go pay..
ReplyDeletehe may be out earlier if he is of good behavior
ReplyDeleteIf you want to enjoy the proceeds of crime, you must be ready to do the time.
ReplyDeleteThe brain they could have used to solve a problem and make money legitimately is used to defraud and steal money from foreign companies.
Husspuppi and Woodberry will receive their verdict in May.
In 2017, some young Nigerians were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 25 years to 115 years, so Invictus is lucky to receive a ten year sentence.
CyberCrime? What for?
Wasted life!
Jail in the US na enjoyment na..he will come out and flex part of his lout
ReplyDeleteThat's if they're not expanding your anus, it's just better than Nigerian prison.
DeleteOne thing you dnt know the whites invented these electronic devices you can’t escape being trapped
ReplyDeleteYimu.
DeleteYou think it's all Yahoo boys are caught? Some dont flaunt
10 years too small! He must have sang like a canary! Just like Teejay said crime does not pay ooo. Sooner or later you will be caught the world is wiser now!
ReplyDeleteHe def sang
DeleteOne year behind bars for every million stole. This is a slap on the wrist compared to what other criminals get.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure he made a deal with the US government
DeleteAwon pespire to aspire. I started my poultry business with one egg,now i supply to over 300 countries.
ReplyDeleteIf you can't do the time,then don't do the crime.
Na them na, motivational speakers!
DeleteThey'd make you question why you need to sleep at night. This one even lied his way into Forbes.
Hes lucky he didnt do it to a country like China, those ones that dont play with their money, he wouldnt see sunlight again.
10yrs??? lucky guy..
ReplyDeleteHe will come out of jail and go into Politics!
ReplyDeleteIn his village maybe
DeleteI'm surprised he got just 10 years. Now, I'm wondering. What happens to all that he stole? Will he return them?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteEdited
DeleteYes to your question @Richie Rich.
He got a light sentence because he returned and forfeited his loot. That is the system when foreign nationals are caught in a financial cime, though it is off-the-books kinda deal.
Invictus forfeited over $4M in his foreign accounts a few weeks after he was arrested just to open a deal with the U.S Governmeet.
The guy must have thought he was invisible and untouchable to the United States government because all his dealings were not related to Americans.
The case he is charged for involved a company in the United Kingdom, but since a United States company was directly affected, the case was reported to the FBI, Their investigation took them to the U.K, then to Invictus gmail account, to Nigeria IP, and then to Nairaland.
Funnily, Invictus was only under radar until his arrest. It was after his arrest that the FBI were able to trace all his activities to his email accounts, not before.
From their own account, the FBI were looking for a network of syndicate as perpetrators of the wire fraud before Invictus kept showing up as the arrowhead of the ring.
Proudly Foodie, Apt!!!
DeleteThis one even have 'brains' and businesses,he should be fine when he's out. Unlike ramoni aka hush dog whose only occupation was show off on instagram. No investment,nothing!
ReplyDeleteWhen the court of law have given their verdict on him,i'll like to see don mayor's comment. I just wantu check something..hehe.
10yrs is just too small
ReplyDeleteLucky him
ReplyDeleteHe'll probably be out in 4-5yrs time he has already started serving since he was put in jail.
ReplyDeleteHe’s in a federal Prison. Their good time, is calculated differently. He will be out in 7
DeletePlease learn to channel your potentials positively. This 10yrs will teach you.
ReplyDeleteThe annoying part of this is how he was forming motivational speaker,putting unnecessary pressure on those hustling legitimately,making them depressed,thinking about why they are not getting it right,not knowing that the son of man issa wire wire chairman!Where are those hypocritical motivational speakers?600 years for them🙄
ReplyDeleteA political slot in Nigeria awaits him and that is Nigeria for you.
ReplyDeleteIn Uranus.
Delete10yrs is perfect!
ReplyDeleteCrime doesn't pay.
ReplyDeletethis one definitely did some plea bargaining...
ReplyDeleteYou don’t get early release if you are incarcerated by the US federal government. State government yes but not the feds.
ReplyDelete