Two Nigerians who served in the United States Air Force have been sentenced for their part in an international cyber fraud scheme that targeted victims in Iowa and elsewhere for almost two years.
Chijioke Timothy Odimegwu, 25, and Harafat Mogaji, 26, both from Delaware, were sentenced last Friday. Investigators from the FBI and Air Force special investigations found that the pair used email spam and phishing campaigns while they were still serving in the Air Force.
They sent messages that appeared to come from legitimate sources in order to steal login details and redirect payments from businesses. Authorities said they diverted a bank transfer of more than $1.68 million from a company in Iowa City into an account controlled by co-conspirators. Another transfer of more than $720,000 sent by the city of Athens in Ohio was also redirected.
The Southern District of Iowa said there were many victims in the state, including a non-profit organisation in Pella whose credit card details were stolen and used for unauthorised purchases. The two men were also linked to numerous other fraudulent transfers.
Until their arrest both men were on active duty and stationed at Dover Air Force Base.
Odimegwu was sentenced to nine years and three months in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $360,000 in restitution. Mogaji was sentenced to six years and six months and must pay nearly $1 million in restitution.
By A.Ikechukwu
