Invictus Okeke faces jail sentence after pleading guilty to $11m scam in US

Nigerian entrepreneur and undercover scam artist, Invictus Obi, whose real name is Obinwanne Okeke, faces jail term in the US after pleading guilty to $11million internet fraud in 2019.

Okeke, who was once on Forbes' list of 100 Most Influential Young Africans, was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) at Dulles International Airport while leaving the US.

Having earlier pleaded not guilty to a two-count charge of internet fraud, Okeke, who appeared before a court in the eastern district of Virginia, finally admitted that he was involved in computer-based fraud between 2015 and 2019.

After pleading guilty, the Presiding Judge, Robert J. Krask, accepted his plea and he faces time behind bars.

“Okeke, 32, operated a group of companies known as the Invictus Group between 2015 and 2019, and was accused of fleecing unsuspecting victims of over $11 million,” the court documents read

“The conspirators obtained and compiled the credentials of hundreds of victims, including victims in the Eastern District of Virginia and elsewhere.

“As part of the scheme, Okeke and others engaged in an email compromise scheme targeting Unatrac Holding Limited, the export sales office for Caterpillar heavy industrial and farm equipment.

“In April 2018, a Unatrac executive fell prey to a phishing email that allowed conspirators to capture login credentials. The conspirators sent fraudulent wire transfer requests and attached fake invoices.

“Okeke participated in the effort to victimize Unatrac through fraudulent wire transfers totalling nearly $11 million, funds which were transferred overseas.

“Okeke pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to commit wire fraud.”

The accused will be sentenced on October 22 and could spend 20 years maximum in an American jail.

The Cable