Nigerian Man Convicted In U.S. For Romance Scam And Money Laundering Scheme

A federal jury in Wilmington, North Carolina has found 34-year-old Nigerian national Saheed Sunday Owolabi guilty of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering tied to multiple cyber-fraud operations.

In a statement issued Wednesday, November 26, 2025, U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle said fraud schemes like this “drain millions from hardworking people,” reiterating the government’s commitment to tracking down criminals who hide behind online anonymity.

Court documents reveal that Owolabi posed as a woman to build fake romantic relationships with men in the U.S., convincing victims to send money and personal details. He and his partners also used victims’ bank accounts to launder funds from other scams.

Evidence showed he participated in a scheme that stole over $120,000 from a North Carolina victim and defrauded hundreds more. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the group hijacked information from a pending home sale and sent spoofed emails directing the buyer to transfer funds into accounts they controlled.

Owolabi later instructed associates on how to move and split the stolen money, including transferring portions to himself. Investigators also uncovered chat messages where he admitted running romance scams only to discover one “victim” was another fraudster who taunted him to “learn how to do a clean job.”

He faces up to 40 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release at his sentencing set for January 2026.

The FBI is leading the investigation, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Brad DeVoe is prosecuting the case.