A Nigerian man received a five-year prison sentence in the United States for swindling hundreds of Americans out of nearly $1.4 million through an online fraud. Nosa Edokpaigbe also faced orders to repay $1,408,897.16 and surrender $681,694 after admitting guilt to wire fraud charges. US District Judge Regina Rodriguez delivered the ruling.
Edokpaigbe pleaded guilty and accepted a judicial removal order that would send him back to Nigeria. He carried out the scheme from July 2020 to May 2021 by filing hundreds of fake applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Paycheck Protection Programme funds. He posed as owners of nonexistent businesses, stealing personal details from real people to support his claims.
Authorities caught him in his home in 2023 after he forged documents and created images with artificial intelligence to deceive officials. The scam exploited relief efforts meant to aid those hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis. Edokpaigbe preyed on the desperation of ordinary Americans during a time of widespread hardship.
US Attorney Peter McNeilly condemned the fraud as a heartless grab at taxpayer money. “While others fought to survive the pandemic, Edokpaigbe treated the emergency as a chance to rob relief from those who truly needed it,” McNeilly said. The case highlights the ongoing battle against such digital crimes targeting vulnerable support systems.