$2.5m fraud: US jails Nigerian five years

A convict

A Nigerian, Kingsley Utulu, has been sentenced to five years and three months in prison for his role in a large-scale hacking and identity theft scheme that defrauded the U.S. tax authorities and private individuals of over $2.5m.

The sentencing, announced on Saturday by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s New York Field Office, Christopher Raia, follows Utulu’s guilty plea to charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Clayton noted, “Kingsley Uchelue Utulu took part in a scheme to hack into the U.S. tax preparation businesses, trade in the stolen personal identifying information, and defraud the IRS and other governmental bodies.

“Offshore scammers like Utulu and his co-conspirators may think they can target hard-working Americans with their hacking and fraud schemes and avoid prosecution.Too” –

“The message from the Department and the FBI is clear — they cannot. We are committed to protecting Americans from criminals operating offshore.”

Raia, also reacting to the conviction, noted that Utulu’s actions caused significant harm.

Raia stated, “Kingsley Utulu, a Nigerian national, was part of a scheme that targeted and infiltrated electronic systems of U.S.-based companies to steal well over two million dollars through fraudulent tax returns.

“Along with his co-conspirators, this defendant’s scheme reached across the globe to exploit sensitive information for financial gain.

“The FBI will never exempt any individual who seeks to unlawfully profit through deceitful practices, regardless of where they are located.”

A report published by DataBreaches.net and obtained by PUNCH Metro on Sunday, citing public court records and statements, revealed that the scheme dated back to 2019.