Nigerian man pleads guilty in U.S. to money laundering in sextortion and romance fraud case

A 35-year-old Nigerian, Olamide Shanu, has pleaded guilty in the United States to conspiracy to commit money laundering after taking part in sextortion and romance fraud schemes that defrauded roughly 150 Americans of more than $2.5 million. The U.S. Department of Justice said Shanu entered the plea on Monday in the District of Idaho and admitted that he and his co-conspirators made more than $2.5 million through the schemes. In the sextortion operation, the conspirators allegedly focused on male victims, persuaded them to send sexual images, and then threatened to share those images with friends and family unless payment was made. They also allegedly targeted older men and women through romance scams, using fake identities on social media to create deceptive emotional relationships before asking victims for money by claiming urgent financial needs. The proceeds were allegedly laundered through peer-to-peer payment apps and cryptocurrency wallets before being transferred to co-conspirators in Nigeria. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva described the case as an international scheme that exploited Americans through sextortion and romance fraud while laundering millions of dollars in criminal proceeds. U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis said the guilty plea reflected efforts by prosecutors and law enforcement partners to disrupt international criminal networks, protect victims, and ensure cyber-enabled crime does not go unanswered. Shanu, who was extradited to the United States, is scheduled to be sentenced on December 15 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal judge will determine his sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.