GA student athlete sentenced for scamming more than $820k in Nigerian fraud schemes

Mona Moore, Sundi Rose
·4 min read

What started with two arrests of William Carey University athletes recently concluded with the sentencing of the fifth and final suspect.

Marietta, Georgia, resident Aniekeme Etim, 24, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Hattiesburg.

According to court documents, Emmanuel Ineh, then 23, and Toluwani Adebakin, then 25, pleaded guilty to “engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activities, collectively sending tens of thousands of illicitly obtained proceeds to fraudsters in Nigeria as part of a larger mail fraud, wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy.”

Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Buckner and former Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Eichner prosecuted the case. Evidence presented in court between 2018 and 2022 revealed romance scams, money scams and military scams targeting U.S. citizens. The victims would be asked send money to people like Ineh and Adebakin, who then transferred the funds to Africa.

As the case progressed, the FBI charged additional track and field athletes from William Carey, the University of Alabama, Louisiana State University and the University of Florida.

According to information provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Mississippi, “Etim and Adebakin, originally from Nigeria, were track and field athletes at William Carey University. Abire, originally from Nigeria, was a track and field athlete at Louisiana State University. Ekevwo, originally from Nigeria, was a track and field athlete at the University of Florida. Ngoni Chadyiwa, originally from Zimbabwe, was a track and field athlete at William Carey University. Finally, Emmanuel Ineh, originally from Nigeria, was a track and field athlete at William Carey University and the University of Alabama.”

None of the convicted athletes had personal contact with the victims, but they were all involved in providing American addresses the scammers used to collect the proffered funds. More than 100 victims sent more than $820,000 to the athletes, who then transferred the money overseas.

Athlete sentencing

  • Abire pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and was sentenced to 41 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

  • Ekevwo pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the operation of an unlicensed money transmission business and was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

  • Adebakin pleaded guilty to money laundering and was sentenced to 36 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

  • Chadyiwa pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the operation of an unlicensed money transmission business and was sentenced to three years of probation.

  • Ineh pleaded guilty to money laundering and was sentenced to time served and three years of supervised release.

  • Etim was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay a $74,847.52 fine and $123,116.50 in restitution for her role in the overseas scams. She pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the operation of an unlicensed money transmission business.

Additionally, as part of their sentence, all of the defendants were ordered to pay restitution to the victims from whom they personally received funds. Each of the defendants also remain subject to potential deportation and/or removal.

Threatening calls and phone scams on the rise in GA

This comes as more and more Americans are falling victim to phone schemes that are more and more sophisticated. The problem has become so pervasive that the US Marshal’s office has released warnings to consumers.

In a press release issued April 16, officials warn the public, “to be aware of threatening phone calls from imposters attempting to fraudulently obtain money by pretending to be U.S. Marshals Service Employees, Judges or Court Representatives/Employees.”

Calls have been reported in the Macon and Middle Georgia areas, but are starting to pop up all across the South, with the perpetrators threatening legal action if an outstanding fine is not paid. The threats can range from fairly benign to extremely serious, with some victims reported being threatened with a federal warrant if they didn’t pay the money demanded.

The US Marshal’s office wants citizens to remember:

  • The U.S. Marshals Service and the Federal Courts WILL NEVER ask for financial information over the phone for any purpose. This includes credit/debit card/gift card numbers, wire transfers, bank routing numbers, or bitcoin deposits.

  • NEVER divulge personal or financial information to unknown callers.

  • Report scam phone calls to your local FBI office and to the Federal Trade Commission., you can remain anonymous when you report.

  • Authenticate the call by calling the clerk of your local District Court and verify the court order given by the caller.

  • The Department of Justice launched the National Elder Fraud Hotline, which provides services to seniors who may be victims of financial fraud. Case managers assist callers with reporting the suspected fraud to relevant agencies and by providing resources and referrals to other appropriate services as needed. The hotline’s toll-free number is 833-FRAUD-11 (833-372-8311).

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