Two Nigerian nationals, Norbert Ozemena Ikwuegbundo, 28 and
Omniyi Jonathan Omotere, 35, both living in Las Vegas, Nevada risk — 97 and 49
years in prison, respectively — over alleged $3.3 million house rent scam.
According to the court indictment, the scheme involved using
multiple false identities and counterfeit drivers’ licenses.
The duo were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit
wire fraud. In addition, Ikwuegbundo is charged for possessing equipment used
to make counterfeit drivers’ licenses, one count of concealment money
laundering, and one count of aggravated identity theft while Omotere is charged
with one count of wire fraud.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security
Investigations (HSI), and the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service
(DSS) Los Angeles Field Office; prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly
Drain.
In the indictment, it was stated that from about March 2018
until about September 2019, the defendants and others engaged in the scheme.
The document alleged that Ikwuegbundo and Omotere assumed
the identities of homeowners who were advertising on websites to rent their
properties.
They reduced rent prices, using the names and personal
identifiers of true homeowners but changing the contact information to email
addresses and phone numbers controlled by the duo — sending false rental
agreements for victims to sign.
The defendants were alleged to have laundered proceeds from
the scheme by using some of the stolen money to buy cars at auction.
If convicted, Ikwuegbundo faces a statutory maximum sentence
of 97 years in prison and Omotere faces a statutory maximum sentence of 40 years
in prison.
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