CHICAGO — An undercover law enforcement investigation has resulted in federal prison sentences for two Nigerian nationals residing in the Chicago suburbs who conducted online inheritance scams and other fraud schemes following a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Chicago investigation.
Using aliases, Anthony Emeka Ibekie and Samuel Anukwu communicated with victims throughout the United States, convincing them they had received substantial inheritances and needed to send money to individuals associated with the defendants in order to claim it. In addition to the inheritance scam, the pair carried out an online romance scam that involved communicating with victims via social media and dating websites, building trust with the victims through a purported online romance, and convincing them to send money to a predetermined recipient. Aniukwu and Ibekie also orchestrated a “business email compromise” scam that targeted corporate email accounts.
The fraud schemes were uncovered by a covert law enforcement investigation. The scams resulted in losses to victims of at least $3.5 million.
“The actions of Ibekie and Anukwu highlight the devastating impact of scams on victims across the United States. By exploiting the trust and emotions of innocent individuals, these criminals manipulated their victims into sending substantial amounts of money. These types of scams are particularly insidious because they prey on the vulnerable and can cause significant financial and emotional harm,” said HSI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Sean Fitzgerald. “We are committed to working tirelessly to bring these perpetrators to justice and to raising awareness about the dangers of such schemes. Law enforcement agencies will continue to collaborate and utilize all available resources to protect our communities from these manipulative and fraudulent activities.”
A federal jury earlier this year convicted Ibekie, 59, of Oswego, Illinois, on all 14 counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, making false statements to a bank, and passport fraud. U.S. District Judge Steven C. Seeger on Thursday sentenced Ibekie to 20 years in federal prison.
Aniukwu, 50, of Romeoville, Illinois, pleaded guilty last year to wire fraud and money laundering charges. Judge Seeger on Nov. 8, 2024, sentenced Aniukwu to ten years in prison.
A third defendant, Jennifer Gosha, 52, a U.S. citizen from Oak Park, Illinois, pleaded guilty earlier this year to charges of wire fraud and making false statements to a federal agent. Gosha is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Seeger on Dec. 18, 2024.
Aniukwu’s and Ibekie’s sentencings were announced by Sean Fitzgerald, Special Agent-in-Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago, Morris Pasqual, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Ramsey E. Covington, Acting Special Agent-in-Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation Chicago Field Office, and Ruth Mendonça, Inspector-in-Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Chicago. Valuable assistance was provided by the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paige A. Nutini and Megan DeMarco represent the government. Hershman was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Learn more about HSI Chicago’s mission to combat scammers within your community on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @HSIChicago.