Two Nigerian-Born Men Sentenced in U.S. for Multi-Million-Dollar Fraud Targeting Seniors

Two Nigerian-born men have been sentenced to federal prison in the United States for orchestrating a complex fraud scheme that targeted elderly Americans, defrauding them of over $4.6 million.

Olumide Olorunfunmi, 40, and Emmanuel Unuigbe, 43, each received 30-month prison terms on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, followed by three years of supervised release. The court also ordered them to repay the full amount stolen from their victims.

Authorities revealed that between 2020 and 2023, the men ran scams that exploited the trust of vulnerable seniors, including romance frauds and business email compromises, which drained decades of life savings from more than 125 victims nationwide.

Investigators said the defendants moved the stolen funds through a complex network of domestic and international transfers to obscure their origins. Portions of the money were converted into Nigerian Naira through unauthorized currency exchanges, generating additional profit for the perpetrators.

Earlier this year, both men entered guilty pleas, acknowledging their central roles in the scheme. A third co-conspirator, Samson Amos, received five years of probation with six months of home confinement and was ordered to pay restitution to affected victims.

Federal authorities emphasized that the sentences serve as a warning against financial exploitation targeting seniors and vulnerable communities, highlighting the need for vigilance in both personal and business transactions.

Experts note that these scams often involve coordinated international operations, making cross-border cooperation essential for tracking and recovering defrauded funds.

Victims expressed relief at the outcome, while advocacy groups continue to push for stronger measures to protect the elderly from similar predatory schemes.

The U.S. Department of Justice affirmed its commitment to pursuing fraud cases involving foreign nationals and called on financial institutions to enhance monitoring mechanisms to prevent future exploitation.