A 35-year-old Nigerian citizen, Lotenna Chisom Umeadi, is facing a possible 20-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to wire fraud charges in the United States.
According to the US Attorney’s Office, Umeadi was arrested in Germany on September 1, 2024, while traveling from Nigeria. German authorities subsequently extradited him to the United States to face charges.
Prosecutors revealed last week that Umeadi had admitted to purchasing a specialised webpage from a computer hacker that enabled him to access email passwords illegally. Using this tool, he gained unauthorised access to email accounts belonging to employees of a Sri Lankan produce exporting company.
“Umeadi used those passwords to gain access to email accounts belonging to employees of a produce exporter in Sri Lanka,” the statement from the US Attorney’s Office detailed.
The scheme involved sending fraudulent emails that tricked a produce importer in Plattsburgh, New York, into redirecting payments totalling $158,400 to bank accounts Umeadi controlled in the United Kingdom. The fraudulent transfers occurred in two separate instances in 2016.
Umeadi’s sentencing has been scheduled for July 21, 2025. In addition to the potential 20-year imprisonment, he faces a fine of up to $250,000 and up to three years of supervised release. Following his prison term, Umeadi will likely be deported from the United States.
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