The United States Department of Justice has announced that a Nigerian national, Edwin Okoronkwo, will be deported after completing a 75-month prison sentence for defrauding multiple American victims.
Okoronkwo was found guilty of conspiring with his wife, Julie Okoronkwo, in a catfishing scam that involved impersonating a senior U.S. military official to deceive unsuspecting individuals. Julie, who played a key role in the scheme, was sentenced to 25 months in prison.
According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice, the couple—both lawful permanent residents of the U.S.—used stolen identities to carry out the fraud, convincing victims to send them money via postal services.
To make their deception more convincing, Julie allegedly contacted victims by phone, reinforcing the fraudulent claims. Investigators also discovered that she accessed personal identification details from her workplace, including Social Security numbers and driver’s license information, to further their illicit activities.
Following their convictions, a U.S. District Court sentenced Edwin Okoronkwo on January 29, 2025, ordering him to serve 75 months in federal prison. The court also mandated that he pay $342,535 in restitution to seven victims, serve three years of supervised release, and face deportation upon completing his sentence.
Julie Okoronkwo had earlier received a 25-month sentence on January 10, 2025. During sentencing, the judge described the case as a “tragedy for the victims,” emphasizing the severe impact of the couple’s fraudulent activities.
With no possibility of parole in the U.S. federal system, Edwin Okoronkwo will remain incarcerated until he serves his full term, after which immigration authorities will oversee his deportation.
