A Nigerian man, Daniel Chima Inweregbu, has pleaded guilty to multiple fraud charges in the United States after admitting his role in a romance scam that defrauded victims of over $405,000.
The 40-year-old confessed to “conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and using an assumed name to commit a mail fraud scheme,” according to a statement released by the US Department of Justice (DOJ).
Prosecutors said Inweregbu and his accomplices orchestrated the elaborate scam between July 2017 and December 2018, primarily targeting vulnerable Americans searching for companionship.
Using online platforms and emails, the fraudsters posed as “Larry Pham,” a fictitious character created to lure victims into emotional relationships.
Once trust was secured, the victims were persuaded to send money under various pretenses.
According to the DOJ, the group opened and managed multiple domestic bank accounts to receive the funds, which were later laundered through complex financial transactions designed to conceal their origins.
“Inweregbu and his co-conspirators cultivated romantic relationships that emotionally attached the victims to ‘Larry Pham.’ Once the trust was established, they exploited it for financial gain,” the DOJ said.
Authorities revealed that the scheme caused financial losses exceeding $405,000, with the funds funneled through intermediaries to disguise ownership and control.
Inweregbu faces severe penalties for his crimes. For Count 1, he could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
For Count 12, he faces another potential 20-year sentence, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $500,000.
He will also pay a mandatory special assessment fee of $100 per count.
Sentencing has been scheduled before Judge Brown on December 4, 2025.
This is not Inweregbu’s first conviction for romance fraud. In December 2020, a Federal High Court in Lagos sentenced him to 18 months in prison (with an option of a ₦300,000 fine) for a similar offence.
He was also ordered to refund $15,000 to the US Consulate as part of restitution for unlawfully obtained funds.
The case adds to the growing list of international fraud prosecutions involving Nigerian nationals and highlights the persistence of romance scams, which remain a major cybercrime threat worldwide.
According to cybercrime analysts, such scams prey on loneliness and emotional vulnerability, with fraudsters often targeting widows, divorcees, and elderly individuals online.
The DOJ has reiterated its commitment to cracking down on international fraud networks, stressing that romance scams not only devastate victims financially but also cause long-lasting emotional trauma.