Obinwanne Okeke, the Nigerian young ‘businessman’ who was recently arrested in the United States for $11 million fraud, could spend up to 30 years in jail if convicted.

Mr Okeke was charged with two counts of computer fraud and wire fraud, which carry a maximum 10 and 20 years respectively, PREMIUM TIMES has learnt.

Mr Okeke, widely known as Invictus Obi, is being remanded at 401 Courthouse Square, Alexandria, VA 22314, which serves as the district headquarters of the U.S. Marshall Service.

His remand order was issued at a preliminary hearing shortly after his arrest.

Mr Okeke was arrested on August 6 in Alexandria, Virginia, just moments before he was scheduled to return to Nigeria.

He appeared before Michael Nachmanoff, a magistrate with the District Court of Eastern District of Virginia, on August 7 to answer charges of wire fraud.

The charges were investigated by the F.B.I. and filed against Mr Okeke by the U.S. Department of Justice, with both authorities saying they were convinced that Mr Okeke duped a UK subsidiary of Caterpillar up to $11 million in business email fraud, amongst other charges.

Mr Okeke has since hired John Iweanoge, a Washington D.C. criminal attorney of Nigerian origin, as his lead defence counsel.


Indefinite remand


Mr Okeke did not enter a plea at his initial arraignment, but he was remanded in custody indefinitely in accordance with the U.S. federal laws on the nature of the criminal complaints against him, according to Joshua Stueve, a spokesperson for the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

His remand would last until a jury has been selected to look into the charges against him, which may take several weeks.

“It may take another two weeks before a new date is fixed for him to appear in court again,” Mr Stueve told PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday.

The spokesperson, however, warned that Mr Okeke would likely get below the maximum sentence.

“Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors,” Mr Stueve said.


https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/349269-alleged-11-million-fraud-obinwanne-okeke-faces-30-years-in-jail.html/amp/

The idiot should be thrown into an underground prison.
Bloody greedy mofo!

what's is the essence of illegal money?...all the enjoyment will remain history and forgotten,while punishment becons.

American isn't Nigeria that he could bribe/connect with people 'in high places' to avoid jail term....he must be regretting his actions by now

#sayNoToCrime


By the way,why are naira Marley,marlians,nnamdi kanu and ndigbo silent about this obiwanne?...FBI isn't EFCC

A working system.... If na naija now him sentence no go pass 5 months.. And that's if the case even reach court sef...

Nigeria is just something else.. Walahi. If only something or someone can just come and wipe all our leaders away..

So..

This is how to sentence a fraudster.

The Nigerian Criminal Justice System needs to take a page from the American System.

30 years in jail serves as an adequate deterrent for potential fraudsters. But in Nigeria, yahoo boys will commit fraud and be given a mere 6 months imprisonment. Just in time to come out and continue from where they stopped.

The EFCC Act, Criminal Code, Penal Code, and all other necessary legislation needs to be overhauled to combat this cankerworm that has eaten deep into the moral fabric of this country.

He wont get up to that.. He already traded long service at jail with snitching..

He only needs a good lawyer

Life na general market, them dey give some pipo suspension. Suspension na okere prison. Na the street be this.

Thief!

Ipob amaka
Always soiling our name all over the world

Disgracing Nigeria up and down,30 years untop your age, u go turn ancestor for there,have fun

Collect ya own

Congrats to him in advance....


Gays in jail will be so happy... The legit guys are already suffering from the sins of these scammers. Hard for American clients to give you a gig as a Nigerian now since the news broke out.

k

If the money don reach Naija, na to do even 100yearszz no shaking..

Good

Pathetic

Let him rot in jail instead.
Say no to crime.

Hmmmm

watxh how hypocrites that were busy hailing naira Marley will castigated this guy...just because FBI is involved

Na wah o, by the time he comes out , the world will not remain the same .. That's if the thr world powers never nuke themselves finish

after all the selling out. he got only 30. hope they put him in the same prison as his friends

Before this guy go come out from prison...some of the youths here Don even port Grandparent(s) ticket

Serves him right... It's not all that glitters that is gold.

My people, if yOu need Original Honey

Call or whatsapp me on 081 0166 6771

if convicted, he will be reported to have committed suicide after 5 years in jail - they will waste this one in jail - aint coming out alive!

Bloggers just want to feed on this story.

Goodbye

according to olu maintain yahoo ooo

Okay

Just imagine,after all the millions he made,he is back to square 1

Indeed crime doesn't pay....