OKLAHOMA CITY – NNAMDI FRANKLIN OJIMBA, 35, has been
convicted by a jury of conspiring to commit wire fraud based on his involvement
in an on-line romance scam, announced U.S. Attorney Timothy J. Downing.
According to an indictment filed on October 17, 2017, Ojimba
and others defrauded individuals by fostering what appeared to be a genuine
romantic relationship on-line and then convincing those individuals to send
them money. Ojimba and others used the
persona "Edward Peter Duffey" and claimed to be a successful
financial advisor or affiliated with charitable causes. He purported to have inside financial
information, such as knowledge that the investment firm used by the victim was
under investigation or was financially unsound.
As a result of these fraudulent claims, victims wired money to
conspirators for what they believed would be investments. In reality, Ojimba and his conspirators kept
the money for themselves.
Two of Ojimba’s conspirators, Ken Ejimofor Ezeah and Akunna
Baiyina Ejiofor, have already been convicted and sentenced. Ezeah, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy, was
sentenced to 11 years in prison on October 6, 2017, and ordered to pay
$4,678,302.79 in restitution to ten victims.
Ejiofor was convicted by a jury on March 30, 2017, and sentenced to
seven years in prison on September 28, 2017.
In October 2018, a jury was unable to reach a verdict on the
conspiracy count. The United States
re-tried the conspiracy case against Ojimba beginning on August 12, 2019,
before a different jury. On August 16,
he was found guilty. Chief United States
District Judge Timothy D. DeGiusti ordered that Ojimba be detained in the
custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending further proceedings.
At sentencing, Ojimba faces up to 20 years in prison, three
years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing will take place in approximately
90 days.
This conviction is the result of an investigation by the FBI
Oklahoma City Division. The case is
being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy W. Ogilvie.
Reference is made to public filings for further information.
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