3 sentenced in Wisconsin cyber romance scheme that bilked $14 million from US and Canadian victims

MADISON, Wis. — Two Nigerian men were each sentenced to 12 years in federal prison, and a U.S. citizen victim-turned-criminal was sentenced to five years’ probations in an international romance and cyber fraud scheme that defrauded victims from the United States and Canada.

These sentences were announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Jeffrey M. Anderson, Western District of Wisconsin. This case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Milwaukee, and the Price County (Wisconsin) Sheriff’s Department and District Attorney’s Office, with assistance from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and numerous law enforcement agencies in California, Indiana, Arizona, New Jersey and Iowa.

Richard Ugbah, 36, a Nigerian citizen living in Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James D. Peterson to 12 years in federal prison for wire fraud. Ugbah was also ordered to forfeit a Mercedes Benz automobile and two bank accounts.

Michael Adegoke, 34, a Nigerian citizen living in Chicago, Illinois, was also sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

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