A 47-year-old Nigerian man named Darlington Akporugo has admitted guilt to charges of wire fraud and conspiracy concerning a romance scam that targeted individuals across the United States, particularly many elderly victims, according to U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.
Akporugo was detained one month prior to his wedding and confessed to being a key player in a longstanding romance scam that deceived victims from Chicago to Kentucky. Collaborating with accomplices, he leveraged online relationships to coerce victims into transferring money to bank accounts that he controlled.
To advance the scheme, Akporugo and his co-conspirators employed fictitious identities to establish connections with victims on social media, building trust before convincing them to invest in non-existent businesses or provide financial support for imaginary emergencies.
In his plea agreement, Akporugo acknowledged that he mainly approached victims via social media platforms like Facebook and instructed them to transfer money either to his accounts or those of his accomplices, the funds were often sent overseas.
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In addition to collecting cash and wire transfers, Akporugo also confessed to persuading victims to take out credit in his name and, in at least one instance, to buy a luxury car for his own use.
During the multi-year investigation, authorities identified more than 25 victims, the majority of whom were retired or elderly, with total losses exceeding $3 million resulting from the fraudulent operation.
“As we have sadly seen, those affected by romance scams experience significant financial hardship, sometimes losing their entire life savings,” stated Ganjei.
“Victims of such scams often feel too ashamed to speak out. However, we urge individuals to report these incidents, as sharing their experiences may help avert future occurrences of victimization.”
U.S. District Judge Charles Eskridge is scheduled to impose a sentence on Akporugo on June 6, where he could face up to 20 years in federal prison along with a potential fine of $250,000.
He will remain in custody until the hearing.
