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Three Nigerians — William Elvis, Moses Hezekiah, and Destiny Oghentega — have been charged in a United States federal court in Rhode Island over their alleged involvement in an online romance and wire fraud scheme.
According to a statement obtained from the U.S. Department of Justice website on Thursday, the suspects were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Court documents show that the alleged scheme began around early 2021 and involved multiple conspirators who targeted victims through online impersonation.
The suspects and their accomplices reportedly posed as professionals working overseas and gradually developed relationships with their victims. The statement said:
“Victims, including an elderly Rhode Island resident, were contacted by individuals who falsely portrayed themselves as professionals working overseas and, over time, developed relationships with them.
“The conspirators then made repeated requests for money under various pretences, including claims of financial hardship, legal issues, or medical emergencies.
“Victims were directed to send funds through gift cards, Bitcoin transactions, and other means, including transfers to accounts controlled by participants in the scheme.”
