Isaiah Okere, a 42-year-old Nigerian national, has pleaded guilty to charges of internet fraud that swindled over $1 million from more than 15 Americans and organizations. Appearing before U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Liman in New York on Tuesday, Okere admitted his involvement in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud......Read The Full Article>>.....Read The Full Article>>
According to U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York, Okere worked alongside members of the notorious transnational criminal group, Black Axe, to carry out a range of online scams. These included romance scams, lottery fraud, and business email compromise (BEC) schemes, which primarily targeted elderly and vulnerable individuals.
“These scams preyed on isolated victims, causing some to lose their entire life savings,”
Williams stated. He emphasized the emotional toll on the victims, noting that one individual even became suicidal after being defrauded.
Okere was apprehended in South Africa in December 2021 and extradited to the United States in August 2024. He now faces up to five years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Between 2015 and 2019, Okere and his associates deceived victims by posing as romantic partners, leading many to drain their retirement accounts. Some even borrowed money from family members and friends, believing they were in genuine relationships. In addition to romance scams, Okere employed fraudulent lottery schemes and manipulated corporate entities through business email compromise fraud.
One instance of BEC fraud saw Okere and his accomplices impersonating a company’s founder to release funds under false pretenses. The U.S. Attorney’s Office revealed that Okere controlled multiple foreign bank accounts in South Africa, where the stolen money was funneled.
The U.S. government has been cracking down on such international fraud schemes. Williams stated, “This office’s global reach ensures that Okere will be held accountable for his crimes here in the United States.”
Okere’s associate, Timy Hakim, was sentenced to two years in prison in 2023 and ordered to pay over $1.4 million in restitution. Okere now awaits sentencing for his role in the multimillion-dollar fraud operation.
