Obinwanne Okeke, better known as Invictus Obi has been sentenced to a 10-year jail term by a US court.
His conviction is connected with his involvement in a series of internet-based fraud amounting to over $11 million.
The Eastern District of Virginia Attorney’s Office gave insights into Tuesday’s conviction early in the morning today.
According to Raj Park, Acting US Attorney for the district, “Through subterfuge and impersonation, Obinwanne Okeke engaged in a series of multi-year global business email and computer hacking scheme that caused a staggering $11 million in losses to his victims.
“Today’s sentence further demonstrates EVDA’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.
Invictus Obi, 33, was previously listed as one of the world’s influential young entrepreneurs by #Forbes.
He was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on allegations of collusion with a number of persons to defraud American firms and individuals over a period of at least 4 years.
Some of his accomplices have remained at large.
During his prosecution, it was discovered that one of Invictus’s victims, UNATRAC, a subsidiary of American heavy duty equipment manufacturer, Caterpillar lost $11 million in spurious transfers.
He was intercepted and arrested by international security agents on arrival to Nigeria after a short visit to the US in 2019.
After months of denials, he finally owned up to the crimes before a federal judge in the US.
He pleaded guilty to the allegation of conspiracy to commit fraud and agreed to cooperate with the US authorities in their investigations.
His plea helped him secure the withdrawal of a second charge which however, carried a lesser sentence and fines.
Read also:
US Court Remands Nigeria’s young Multi Billionaire in Prison