Tag: FBI

FBI adds ‘Cryptoqueen’ Ruja Ignatova on its 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list

Ruja Ignatova, the so-called Cryptoqueen, has now been named a most-wanted fugitive by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI.

The FBI added Ignatova to its 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list for allegedly defrauding investors of more than $4 billion through OneCoin, a cryptocurrency company she helped found in 2014.

Ruja Ignatova

The move comes after Europol added Ignatova, 42, to its most-wanted list earlier this year.

“It’s an important tool for us, the top 10 list,” FBI Assistant Director Michael Driscoll told reporters during a news briefing Thursday. “We think the public is in the best position to help.”

Ignatova, a Bulgarian lawyer, claimed to have invented a cryptocurrency to rival Bitcoin. She and others allegedly made false statements while soliciting investments and promoted OneCoin through a multi-level marketing strategy, according to the FBI.

OneCoin also claimed to have a private blockchain, as opposed to a public and verifiable one that other virtual currencies have, and the value of OneCoin was determined by the company rather than market demand, the FBI said.

The FBI alleges that Ignatova ultimately persuaded investors to give her billions of dollars, capitalizing on the buzz around cryptocurrencies, before disappearing in 2017 after a federal warrant was issued for her arrest.

“She’s got a lot of money and she hit the road pretty quick,” Driscoll said.

Investigators believe Ignatova may have been tipped off that she was under investigation by U.S. and international authorities. On Oct. 25, 2017, she traveled from Sofia, Bulgaria, to Athens, Greece, and has not been seen since, according to the FBI.

Ignatova was indicted in February 2018 on one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit securities fraud, and securities fraud.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Ignatova is the only woman on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list and is the 11th in its 72-year history,

Reward

FBI said it is offering a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to her arrest.

“She was known to travel throughout Eastern Europe and the Mideast and may have had plastic surgery to alter her appearance, the FBI added.

While speaking at an event in London in June 2016, Ignatova told the crowd she believed OneCoin would become the “no. 1 cryptocurrency worldwide.” Though in an email with her co-founder, Ignatova reportedly described an exit strategy for OneCoin as, “Take the money and run and blame someone else for this…” according to federal prosecutors.

Several others also have been charged in connection with OneCoin, including Ignatova’s brother, Konstantin Ignatov, who ran the business after she disappeared from public view. He was arrested in March 2019 on a wire fraud conspiracy charge stemming from his role in the “international pyramid scheme,” federal prosecutors said. He pleaded guilty to multiple felonies and is awaiting sentencing.

Attorney Mark Scott was convicted in 2019 for his role in laundering $400 million worth of fraud proceeds on behalf of OneCoin leadership and is awaiting sentencing, prosecutors said.

Karl Sebastian Greenwood, another OneCoin co-founder, is awaiting trial on fraud charges.

July 1, 2022
N22m Fraud: Lagos court jails FBI-wanted Aderibigbe

Adekunle Abiodun Aderibigbe, who was on the watch list of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, has been convicted and sentenced for fraud, by Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.

Aderibigbe, a member of a syndicate operating in the United States, specializes in stealing United States citizens’ data to obtain fraudulent tax returns from the Internal Revenue Service, IRS.

The defendant, alongside other members of the syndicate, perpetrated the fraud through the help of one Curtis Betley serving a jail term in the U.S. to steal the identities of American nationals and use the same to file over 255 fraudulent tax fund returns with the IRS, making over $1.6million.

The Lagos Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, acting on the FBI report and after diligent investigation, arrested Aderibigbe.

He was subsequently arraigned on August 5, 2020, on an amended five-count charge bordering on criminal conduct retention of proceeds, contrary to Section 17 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment Act 2004, and impersonation, contrary to Section 378 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

One of the counts reads: “Adekunle Abiodun Aderibigbe, sometime between the year 2014 and 2016 in Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division of this Honourable Court, retained in your control the aggregate sum of N22,000,000 only in your GTB bank account, being proceeds of criminal conduct on behalf of Olumiyiwa Olawoye, Adekunle Adegunroye, Keke Animahun (all at large).”

Another count reads: “Adekunle Abiodun Aderibigbe, sometime between 2013 and 2016 in Lagos, within the Ikeja Judicial Division of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, opened an email account abbeya333@yahoo.com linked to your GSM number 0803366089 and 08059985552 and hid your identity by falsely representing yourself to unsuspecting members of the public as tax collector in the United States of America, which pretence you knew was false.”

He pleaded “not guilty” to the charge preferred against him.

During the trial, the prosecution counsel, Ahmed Yerima, who opened his case on August 24, 2020, called three witnesses and tendered several documents that were admitted in evidence against the defendant by the court.

The defence opened its case on October 3, 2021, with the defendant taking to the dock to defend himself.

Delivering judgment on Friday, June 10, 2022, Justice Taiwo held that the money traced to the defendant was the proceeds of crime, as he failed to prove its source sufficiently.

He was found guilty as charged for the offence of retention of proceeds of criminal conduct and sentenced to two years, with an option of N2m fine.

June 15, 2022
Wire fraud: FBI wanted Nigerian arrested by EFCC in Imo State

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC has arrested a Nigerian Emmanuel Chidiebere who has been on the watchlist of American Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI.

Chidiebere was arrested in his home town in Orlu, Imo State

Upon tip off of his emergence in Orlu, the Enugu Zonal command of Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission swooped into action and arrested the suspect.

According to EFCC’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, the Nigerian is wanted by the FBI for conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering.

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it reads , “EFCC Arrests Suspect on FBI Wanted-List in Enugu

“The Enugu Zonal Command of the EFCC, has arrested Emmanuel Dike Chidiebere, a suspect on the watch list of the American Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, for conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering.

“Acting on verified intelligence, operatives of the Commission on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, tracked the suspect to Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State where he was arrested

“Chidiebere is alleged to have defrauded some victims in America, Cote D’Ivoire and Poland of some undisclosed amount of money and went underground.

“Three of his accomplices are still at large.”

March 30, 2022
BREAKING: FBI-wanted Nigerian Chidiebere, arrested in Imo State

Emmanuel Chidiebere, a Nigerian on the watch list of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), has been arrested by the Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in Orlu Imo state.

In a statement by the EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, Emmanuel Chidiebere is wanted for conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering.

The statement read, “EFCC Arrests Suspect on FBI Wanted-List in Enugu

“The Enugu Zonal Command of the EFCC, has arrested Emmanuel Dike Chidiebere, a suspect on the watch list of the American Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, for conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering.

“Acting on verified intelligence, operatives of the Commission on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, tracked the suspect to Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State where he was arrested

“Chidiebere is alleged to have defrauded some victims in America, Cote D’Ivoire and Poland of some undisclosed amount of money and went underground.”

March 30, 2022
FACTCHECK: Did Hushpuppi commit fresh $400,000 fraud from US prison?

Nigerian Abbas Ramon arrested for fraud by the FBI in 2020.

The media was awash with news on Thursday that a popular Nigerian Instagram celebrity Abbas Ramon, also known as Hushpuppi, who is currently in US detention over fraud charges had laundered over $400k from prison.

The circulated document had claimed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation through its agent Andrew John Innocenti, presented documents before the United States District Court of California on Wednesday with fresh evidence indicting Hushpuppi for fraud.

It accused the celebrity of committing fraud and money laundering of Economic Impact Payment (EIP) debit cards fraudulently obtained from stolen data of US citizens and residents while in detention.

The document further said that US prosecutors informed the court that inmates were allowed limited access to phone calls, video calls, the internet and computers without monitoring, adding that Hushpuppi also enjoyed this privilege like other inmates.

HOW TRUE IS THIS CLAIM?

There is no legal prohibition against restricting inmates’ telephone privileges and federal courts have held that inmates have a First Amendment right to some level of telephone access.

The court of appeals for the ninth circuit held that pre-trial detainees and prisoners retain no statutory or constitutional right to privacy in their outgoing phone calls.

Companies such as JPay and Securtech install and maintain phones and kiosks in prisons for the inmates to use, but these systems are monitored. According to law, the only one type of communication exempted from monitoring are those with an attorney (attorney client privilege).

Although, the content of the document on Thursday claims to have “new information involving Abbas”, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles, which filed the initial fraud case against Abbas said it did not file any new charge.

The Director of Media Relations, United States Attorney’s Office (Los Angles) Thom Mrozek, in an inquiry sent by PremiumTimes on Thursday, distanced both the attorney-general’s office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from the fresh allegations against the Instagram celebrity.

In addition, an American cybercrime expert Gary Warner, said some scammers were behind the viral report which is a doctored version of a June 2020 affidavit, adding that the edited document was intended to get people to visit a scammer website.

VERDICT

The circulated document alleging fresh fraud case against Hushpuppi is fake and intended to draw traffic to a scammer EIP website.

March 18, 2022
JUST IN: Hushpuppi commits fresh fraud while in US prison

Popular Instagram celebrity Hushpuppi has received fresh charges as US prosecutors submit court documents showing how he committed fraud and laundered over $400k from behind bars.

US prosecutors presented documents before the United States District Court of California on Wednesday with fresh evidence indicting Hushpuppi of committing fraud and money laundering in US Federal correctional facility.

The court documents stated that Hushpuppi, while in US Federal correctional facility, participated in the purchase and laundering of Economic Impact Payment (EIP) debit cards fraudulently obtained from stolen data of US citizens and residents.

EIP are financial support offered by the US government to U.S residents according to the CARES Act. One of the ways eligible US residents receive their EIP is by debit cards. From the documents presented in court, it was found that hackers use data of US residents to file and obtain EIP debit cards. They sell off these EIP cards in underground marketplaces to other cyber criminals.

In the court document, US prosecutors mentioned that inmates are allowed access to phone calls, video calls, the internet, and computers with limited usage but they are not monitored because inmates have right to their privacy. Hushpuppi also received this access like other inmates.

However, between 28th Jan and 4th Mar 2022, security officers at the US Federal correctional facility, observed more usage of the internet by Hushpuppi. Knowing that Hushpuppi was arrested for internet related crimes, they obtained a warrant to record Hushpuppi activities. A dedicated system was setup for him and his activities were recorded for 7 days.

It was found that Hushpuppi was actively buying EIP debit cards from an underground cyber criminal marketplace. While being recorded, Hushpuppi bought a total of 58 EIP debit cards with a total value of $429,800 on the site and laundered the money through one AJ.

Source

March 17, 2022
Hushpuppi: Police Minister opens up on roadmap for extradition of Abba Kyari

Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Dingyadi has opened up on the roadmap that the extradition of Abba Kyari, celebrated Nigerian police officer involved in the fraud case of Hushpuppi, will take.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had declared Kyari wanted in the United States of America (USA), and three weeks later, the police authorities in Nigeria set up a panel to study in details the allegations of bribery levelled against the erstwhile Head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

The panel, headed by DIG Joseph Egbunike, had in August submitted its report and recommendation to the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, and the Minister of Police Affairs has now said the report and recommendation are the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

The Minister of Police Affairs further revealed in a televised programme monitored by TNG on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Tuesday that the report was sent to the AGF for legal opinion, following which, Alhaji Dingyadi said the report would be sent to President Muhammadu Buhari for final consideration.

“The issue of Abba Kyari has become a public domain. The committee has submitted it’s report to the IGP. We have submitted this report and recommendation to the Attorney General of the Federation for legal opinion. Thereafter, we will take it to Mr President for final consideration.

“Even though this matter is a local matter here, it also has international connotations. So, we have to do some due diligence to ensure that we do the right thing. There has to be some consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice before a final decision is taken,” Dingyadi said.

September 14, 2021
Abba Kyari, indicted in Hushpuppi’s fraud case resumes social media activities

Nigerian celebrated police officer, Abba Kyari, indicted in the fraud case involving Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi, has resumed activities on his social media page.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Kyari paused social media use after reports emerged that he colluded with Hushpuppi after the embattled Internet fraudster had a fallout with his co-conspirators.

According to an affidavit filed in court, Kyari was contracted to arrest a co-conspirator of Hushpuppi and was paid hugely. Kyari also allegedly sent Hushpuppi bank account details into which Hushpuppi could deposit payment for the arrest.

He was subsequently declared wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and following dirty revelations against the celebrated Nigerian police officer, the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) set up a panel to investigate his involvement.

TNG reports, however, that the panel set up to probe the bribery allegations against the erstwhile Head of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), has since submitted it’s report to the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba.

While details of the report submitted by the chairman of the Special Investigative Panel, DIG Joseph Egbunike are yet to be made public, Kyari has, however, resumed activities on his Facebook.

TNG reports Kyari shared a post made by A Travel Bucket List Facebook page with destination set for Quebec, Canada. However, the police officer quickly deleted the post he shared.

September 9, 2021
FBI indictment: Suspended DCP Kyari to appear before DIG Egbunike’s panel this week

Embattled Abba Kyari is to appear before a four-man panel this week, to defend his alleged role in the Hushpupi’s trial in the US.

According to a report, the suspended Head of the Intelligence Response Team, who is also a Deputy Commissioner of Police will appear before the Special Investigation Panel to give information about his alleged involvement in a $1.1 million Internet fraud this week.

The Police Service Commission on Sunday suspended Kyari, from service. This was sequel to the recommendation of Kyari’s suspension by the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, on Saturday.

The PSC stated that Kyari’s suspension took effect from Saturday (July 31) and would subsist pending the outcome of the investigation in respect of his indictment by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The commission also directed the IG to furnish it with information on further development on the matter for necessary further action, according to a statement by the PSC spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, titled, ‘FBI indictment: PSC suspends DCP Abba Kyari, directs IGP to furnish it with information on further developments.’

The commission’s decision which was conveyed in a letter with reference, PSC/POL/D/153/Vol/V/138 to the IG on Sunday, was signed by Justice Clara Ogunbiyi, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court and Commissioner 1 in the commission on behalf of the PSC Chairman, Alhaji Musiliu Smith, who is on leave.

August 2, 2021
Six Nigerians top FBI’s most wanted list

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States (US), has declared that six Nigerians are at top on its list of most wanted people.

The Nigerians on the wanted list, according to the agency, include Michael Olorunyomi, Richard Izuchukwu Uzuh, Alex Afolabi Ogunsakin, Felix Osilama Okpoh, Abiola Ayorinde Kayode, and Nnamdi Orson Benson, all accused of executing a business email compromise (BEC) scheme.

Through the scheme, FBI said, the suspects defrauded more than 70 different businesses in the U.S., resulting in combined losses of over $6 million.

Uzuh, who is believed to be the leader of the gang, was indicted on 18 October 2016, in the US district court of Nebraska, Omaha, on charges of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

On 19 October, a federal warrant was issued for his arrest but he has gone into hiding since then, making it impossible for the efforts made to arrest him to yield any result.

According to the FBI poster declaring Uzuh wanted, he and his co-conspirators sent spoofed emails to thousands of businesses in the US, requesting fraudulent wire transfers.

Uzuh allegedly worked with money launderers, romance scammers, and others involved in BEC schemes to launder the proceeds of other crimes through a complex network of witting and unwitting people in the U.S. and abroad.

Okpoh who was indicted three years later was accused of providing hundreds of bank accounts to Uzuh and other co-conspirators.

The accounts were used to receive fraudulent wire transfers running into $1million.

Okpoh was indicted on 21 August with a warrant of arrest issued on 22 August.

Afolabi Ogunshakin, who was also declared wanted, was similarly accused of providing bank accounts to Uzuh and gang, to receive the fraudulent wire transfer.

According to the FBI, Ogunshakin caught the bug of fraud, by staging his own BEC, after being an apprentice to Uzuh and others.

Like Okpoh, he was indicted on 21 August and a warrant issued for his arrest on 22 August.

Kayode, also on the FBI list was accused of providing bank accounts to Uzuh. He was also alleged to have conducted BEC and romance scams of his own.

He was indicted the same day with Ogunshakin and Okpoh.

Benson, the 5th member of the gang was also accused of making available bank accounts to the gang. He also staged his own scams too.

Olorunyomi was not just a member of the six-man gang, he targeted vulnerable elders and widows in his scams.

He defrauded his victims of more than $1million.

He also aided the Uzuh group in providing bank accounts of his victims to be used for fraudulent wire transfers from other victims.

He was the last to be indicted on 13 November 2019 for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, identity theft, and access device fraud.

His warrant of arrest was issued on 14 November.

July 24, 2021