A North Texas man, Ifeanyichukwu Festus Obi, 43, will spend the next 20 years behind bars for leading a gang of criminals that allegedly used “sweetheart sc#ms” on elderly victims across the country and sent the money to Nigeria.
According to the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office, Ifeanyichukwu, was one of four people arrested following a 17-month, multi-agency task force investigation.
It is reported that he is a ringleader of the “Yahoo Boys” gang in Nigeria, that sent $1.32 million in stolen money to Africa during a two-month span in 2019, He was convicted of engaging in organized criminal activity and theft of property of more than $300,000.
During court hearings, it was revealed that the group is connected to callers in Nigeria who sc#m the elderly into sending money to their online love interest.
“These Nigerian sc#mmers are calling our retired-elderly population all through the night, waking them up, stressing them out and compelling them to send their money far and wide,” said Assistant Criminal District Attorney Lori Varnell, who prosecuted the case.
They said his 20-year prison sentence for theft and engaging in criminal activity reflects the vast amount of money he was laundering overseas. Prosecutors are still working cases against the other three members of the “Yahoo Boys.”
The other three people indicted in the case are; Saheed Akinyemi, 33, for engaging in organized criminal activity and theft of property between $30,000 and $150,000; Olusegun Odunwole, 35, for engaging in organized criminal activity and theft of property between $2,500 and $30,000 and Obianuju Orakposim, 43, for engaging in organized criminal activity and theft of property between $300,000 and $1 million.
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