US court sentences Obinwanne Okeke(Invictus Obi) to 10years imprisonment

A Nigerian entrepreneur Obinwanne Okeke popularly called Invictus Obi has been sentenced to 10years imprisonment for fraud that caused almost $11million losses to his victims.

On June 18, 2020 Invictus had pleaded guilty to two count charges of internet fraud in the United States that caused $11M in losses to his victims. The confirmed fraudster operated a company known as Invictus Group which operated in three African countries including Nigeria, South Africa, and Zambia.

While delivering the judgement, Raj Patel, acting U.S Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia said,

“Through subterfuge and impersonation, Obinwanne Okeke engaged in a multi-year global business email and computer hacking scheme that caused a staggering $11 million in losses to his victims,”.

“Today’s sentence further demonstrates EDVA’s and FBI’s worldwide reach in vigorously pursuing justice on behalf of American victims and others and holding international cybercriminals accountable, no matter where they commit their crimes.” he added.

It was reported that from approximately 2015 to 2019, Okeke and some other people engaged in a conspiracy to conduct various computer-based frauds. The conspirators obtained and compiled the credentials of hundreds of victims, including victims in the Eastern District of Virginia.

As part of the scheme, Okeke and other conspirators engaged in an email compromise scheme targeting Unatrac Holding Limited, the export sales office for Caterpillar heavy industrial and farm equipment. In April 2018, a Unatrac executive fell prey to a phishing email that allowed conspirators to capture login credentials. The conspirators sent fraudulent wire transfer requests and attached fake invoices.

Okeke participated in the effort to victimize Unatrac through fraudulent wire transfers totaling nearly $11 million, which was transferred overseas. Okekealso got involved in sending phishing emails to capture email credentials, creating fraudulent web pages, and causing other losses to numerous victims.

“The FBI will not allow cyber criminals free reign in the digital world to prey on U.S. companies,” said Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office.

“This sentencing demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to working with our partners at the Department of Justice and our foreign counterparts to locate cyber criminals across the globe and bring them to the United States to be held accountable.” Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Brian Dugan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, announced after giving the sentence by Chief U.S. District Judge Rebecca Beach Smith.

The case was prosecuted by assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Samuels.

Invictus Obi pleads guilty to N4.2 billion fraud in the U.S, set to be sentenced