Uchendu was found guilty of conspiracy to commit money laundering, mail fraud, and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.
A 26-year-old Nigerian national based in the U.S., Clinton Chukudi Uchendu, has been sentenced to 28 months in prison and ordered to pay $170,000 in restitution.
Uchendu was found guilty of assisting in a romance fraud scheme that defrauded hundreds of victims out of millions of dollars and personally moved $299,000.
The sentence was imposed on Monday by U.S. District Court Judge Jill N. Parrish.
A statement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Utah, disclosed that in March 2024, a federal jury convicted Uchendu for his involvement in a romance scam conspiracy that cost victims more than $2 million.
Uchendu was found guilty of conspiracy to commit money laundering, mail fraud, and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, from February 2018 to July 2018, Uchendu provided U.S. based accounts to collect money from victims.
Uchendu moved the funds to conceal the origin and destination of funds, often in a complex manner.
The object of the conspiracy was accomplished though social manipulators, referred to as “Yahoo Boys,” who set up fake profiles online, developed relationships with their victims, gained the victims trust and then asked the victims for money using a variety of false pretenses.
“Yahoo Boys” usually operate overseas, in this case, Nigeria, pretending to be US soldiers, international businessmen, or celebrities. “Yahoo Boys” rely on their coconspirators in the US, who have bank accounts in the country to assist them.
The statement reads, “These individuals are referred to as “pickers.” As a “picker,” Uchendu provided accounts to collect funds from the victims and to add layers to conceal the source and destination of the funds, to avoid being flagged by banks.
“Uchendu collected money into bank accounts and then laundered the funds to Nigeria or other destinations.”
Meanwhile, between March 13, 2018, and July 31, 2018, the US calculated that the entire group caused $2.4 million in losses to victims.
Uchendu’s co-defendant, Princess Eziyi, is scheduled to be sentenced on August 26, 2024, at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City.
U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah, said, “Uchendu caused profound and permanent harm to victims. Many suffered significant financial loss in their final years of life and are faced with emotional trauma,” said U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah.
“My office is committed to protecting our citizens, and with our law enforcement partners, we will prosecute these crimes to seek justice for the victims and deter others from committing fraud.”
Special Agent in Charge Shohini Sinha of the Salt Lake City FBI said, “Scammers operating under the guise of companionship and romance are especially cruel because of the emotional and financial toll on the victims, many of whom are seniors.
“The FBI is committed to holding perpetrators accountable, in addition to conducting prevention efforts through outreach and education.”
The case was investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office.
Assistant United States Attorneys Carl D. LeSueur and Stewart M. Young of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Utah prosecuted the case.
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