Nigerian Man Jailed In US Over $4.1m Fraud After Extradition From South Africa

A Nigerian man, James Junior Aliyu, has been sentenced to 90 months in prison in the United States for his role in a $4.1 million wire fraud and money laundering scheme.

In a statement on Saturday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Aliyu must also give up $1.2 million and repay $2.4 million to his victims.

The agency added that he will be deported after serving his sentence.

Aliyu was arrested in July 2022 in Sandton, with support from Interpol and the South African Police Service.

Authorities said he had been involved in defrauding multiple victims in the US.

Investigators linked him to a cybercrime network that carried out phishing attacks, online scams, and money laundering operations.

After being extradited to the US, Aliyu admitted to the charges against him.

Eight other individuals connected to the same scheme also pleaded guilty in separate cases handled in the US District Court for the District of Maryland.

According to prosecutors, the group hacked into email accounts belonging to individuals and businesses between February and July 2017.

They then sent fake payment instructions using disguised email addresses to trick victims into transferring money into accounts controlled by the fraud ring.

Authorities said Aliyu personally played a role in fraud totaling over $4.16 million.

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