Nigerian tech worker Sapphire Egemasi is facing the possibility of more than 20 years in prison following her arrest by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in connection with a sweeping fraud scheme that targeted multiple U.S. government agencies.
Egemasi, a programmer with a public presence on the software platform Devpost, was apprehended on or around April 10, 2025, in Bronx, New York. She was arrested alongside other suspects, including Ghanaian national Samuel Kwadwo Osei, who authorities believe led the criminal syndicate.
According to a federal grand jury indictment filed in 2024, the group is accused of orchestrating a wide-ranging internet fraud and money laundering operation, with activities reportedly spanning from September 2021 to February 2023.
Federal investigators allege that Egemasi and her co-conspirators defrauded government entities, including the city of Kentucky, of millions of dollars. Egemasi is said to have played a critical role in the scheme, designing spoof websites that mimicked official U.S. government portals to steal login credentials and redirect public funds.
Before her arrest, Egemasi was reportedly based in Cambridge, United Kingdom. However, law enforcement officials believe she previously resided in Ghana, where she allegedly built connections with the other members of the group.
Described by authorities as the syndicate’s “tech lead,” Egemasi is accused of spearheading the creation of fraudulent websites and overseeing the transfer of stolen funds into accounts under the syndicate’s control.
One recovered text message, dated August 2022, details how the group rerouted \$965,000 stolen from Kentucky into a PNC Bank account. In another incident during the same period, \$330,000 was funneled into a Bank of America account.
To mask the origins of her income, prosecutors say Egemasi falsely claimed on her professional profiles to have held various roles—mostly internships—at multinational companies such as British Petroleum, H\&M, and Zara.
Online, she cultivated a glossy image under the alias “tech queen,” frequently posting photos of luxury vacations to destinations like Greece and Portugal on LinkedIn and other platforms. Authorities allege these trips were financed through the proceeds of fraud.
Egemasi and her co-accused are currently in federal custody and awaiting trial in Lexington, Kentucky. If convicted, each faces up to 20 years in prison, heavy financial penalties, and possible deportation to their respective home countries after serving their sentences.
