Nigerian, Benard Emurhowhoariogho Okorhi has been sentenced to serve 75 months in U.S. federal prison for his role in an international fraud conspiracy. Talktokemi
Okorhi, 42,
is the 11th member of the fraud gang to be jailed. He was initially living in
Ghana, operating a business known as Coolben Royal Links LTD.
His gang used
compromised email accounts to steal from businesses and romance scams on
internet dating sites to trick individuals into wiring money overseas.
The scheme was
estimated to have cost residents of the U.S. approximately $8 million dollars.
The total
scheme was estimated to have netted over $10 million worldwide during criminal
enterprise’s five-year lifespan.
Acting U.S.
Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr., announced the sentence on Wednesday.
The group
also compromised the email networks of many businesses, redirecting wires
intended to pay for services or goods to bank accounts under the control of the
scammers.
Evidence
presented in a Memphis, Tennessee court revealed that Okorhi and others, some
U.S. citizens, some residents of Ghana and Nigeria–created fake profiles on
online dating services to entice people looking for companionship into
fraudulent relationships.
Once the
victim was fully involved, the scammers would develop elaborate storylines that
always required the victim to send financial assistance to his or her beloved.
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