Nigerian Man Extradited to U.S. for $158,400 Fraud Scheme

U.S. Prosecutes Nigerian Man for Defrauding Firm After Extradition from Germany

​A 35-year-old Nigerian national, Lotenna Chisom Umeadi, has pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud in a U.S. federal court, admitting his involvement in an international cyber fraud scheme that resulted in the loss of $158,400.

Umeadi confessed to purchasing a compromised webpage from a hacker, which he used to illegally access email passwords of employees at a produce exporting company in Sri Lanka. Posing as a legitimate representative of the Sri Lankan company, Umeadi sent fraudulent emails to a produce importer in Plattsburgh, New York, instructing them to transfer payments owed to the Sri Lankan company into bank accounts in the United Kingdom under his control. Consequently, in 2016, the Plattsburgh-based importer wired two payments totaling $158,400 to these UK accounts.

Following an extensive investigation, Umeadi was arrested by German authorities on September 1, 2024, upon his arrival from Nigeria. He was subsequently extradited to the United States to face charges. ​

Umeadi now faces severe penalties, including a maximum of 20 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. His sentencing is scheduled for July 21, 2025.

This case underscores the collaborative efforts of international law enforcement agencies in combating cyber fraud and ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice, regardless of their location.