The Federal Bureau of Investigation has apprehended Kingsley Inegbedion, a prominent Nigerian tech entrepreneur, on charges related to a staggering $1.5 million internet fraud and money laundering scheme.
The FBI’s actions stem from a 16-count criminal indictment filed against Inegbedion and his associate, Efemena Igbe, Peoples Gazette reported.
The indictment, filed on May 14 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, accuses Inegbedion and Igbe of orchestrating romance scams and business email compromises under the guise of legitimate businesses. These activities allegedly targeted unsuspecting American citizens between April 2020 and May 2023.
Inegbedion, known for his role as a network engineer and for conducting tech training programs in Atlanta, had drawn law enforcement’s attention prior to this case, as indicated in official documents. The fraudulent operations allegedly involved the use of sham corporate entities without physical premises or legitimate income, through which victims were deceived into wiring funds to seemingly genuine accounts.
The perpetrators then swiftly dispersed the illicit proceeds into various accounts both within and outside the United States, in an effort to obfuscate their trail.
The indictment outlines specific instances of fraudulent transactions, including withdrawals amounting to $50,120 and $60,000 from accounts associated with the fictitious entities Camtech and Kingtech Global Auto. It also highlights the purchase of a cashier’s check totaling $160,000 from another account linked to Kingtech.
While Inegbedion remains in custody to face the charges brought forth by the FBI, his accomplice, Efemena Igbe, has reportedly absconded to Nigeria after evading questioning by security agents prior to the indictment.
The FBI’s investigation into the case underscores ongoing efforts to combat cyber-enabled financial crimes that exploit digital platforms for illicit gains.
The case against Inegbedion and Igbe underscores the FBI’s commitment to pursuing individuals involved in sophisticated internet fraud schemes, which continue to pose significant threats to individuals and businesses globally.
