In a landmark verdict, Uchenna Christian Nlemchi, a Nigerian national, has been handed a 51-month prison sentence and ordered to pay a substantial fine of $524,000 in restitution for his involvement in a romance scam and business email compromise scheme.
The ruling, announced by U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez and Special Agent Raul Bujanda of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office, marks a significant milestone in the fight against cybercrime.
According to court documents, the elaborate scheme orchestrated by Nlemchi, in collaboration with a co-conspirator identified as “Sean Bartlett,” targeted a widow in New Mexico, persuading her to part with substantial sums of money under false pretenses of business expenses.
Nlemchi opened fraudulent bank accounts in his name and that of a fictitious business entity, “Jay Auto & Machine Parts,” through which he siphoned over $375,000 from the victim’s retirement savings and home equity loan.
Detailing the intricate web of deceit, the statement revealed that Nlemchi rapidly withdrew and transferred the ill-gotten funds globally, totaling over $868,000, before abandoning the fraudulent accounts in February 2016.
Despite being arrested in Houston, Texas, in 2017, Nlemchi managed to evade justice by fleeing to Mexico, Brazil, and eventually returning to Nigeria, where he remained a fugitive for more than five years until his arrest in Hungary in 2023.
Having pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering charges in February 2024, Nlemchi now faces deportation proceedings and a three-year period of supervised release following the completion of his sentence.
The verdict underscores the resolve of law enforcement agencies to combat cyber-enabled crimes and bring perpetrators to justice, serving as a stern warning to individuals involved in similar illicit activities.