In a significant fraud case, a Nigerian man living in the UK has been sentenced to nearly 12 years in prison after being found guilty of helping in a $200,000 fraud attempt against a North Dakota law firm. The crime, which involved fake digital transfers, took place between November and December 2020.
How the Fraud Unfolded According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota, Christopher Agbaje, along with accomplices, pretended to be business owners locked in a legal dispute with a company in Bismarck. They established a false attorney-client relationship with the law firm and presented a fake Citibank check for $198,850. After the check was deposited, the law firm, under the impression it was real, wired $198,336.68 to Agbaje’s business partner.
The Money Laundering Scheme Following the transfer, Agbaje instructed his partner to make a fake $180,000 international transfer in order to hide the money’s true origin. When law enforcement began investigating the case, Agbaje advised his partner to “gain leverage,” “keep pushing forward,” and “act innocent.”
Legal Consequences In February 2024, Agbaje was extradited from the UK to North Dakota. Although he was acquitted of wire fraud and mail fraud in May, he was convicted of money laundering and aiding in both wire fraud and mail fraud. On September 11, 2024, he was sentenced to 142 months in prison and ordered to pay $188,935.74 in restitution to the law firm.
Statements from Authorities U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider emphasized the importance of the conviction: “This strong sentence shows that international fraudsters cannot hide from justice. When North Dakotans are the victims of fraud, our prosecutors and law enforcement partners will work internationally to hold defendants accountable.”
FBI Special Agent Alvin M. Winston Sr. also commented: “Today’s sentencing demonstrates that no fraud scheme is beyond the reach of justice. The FBI will continue to work with partners across the globe to protect the financial security of the American people.”
This case highlights the lengths to which fraudsters will go and the collaborative efforts of law enforcement to bring them to justice, even across borders.
