Ugandan National Sentenced to Prison for Role in Business Email Compromise Scam

Kingsley Ogbeide, age 50, handed a 10-year sentence

In a court hearing on September 20, 2023, a Ugandan national, Kingsley Ogbeide, received a 10-year prison sentence for his involvement in a substantial Business Email Compromise (BEC) scam that targeted a company within the Southern District of Iowa.

Details of the Business Email Compromise Scam

According to the court records, Ogbeide, who also went by the aliases “James Oreye,” “Emmanual Richson,” and “King,” was a significant figure in the fraudulent scheme. The scheme aimed to trick employees of reputable businesses into altering their banking information via emails. Consequently, substantial sums of money were transferred to unlawful accounts controlled by the fraudsters.

Ogbeide’s Role in the Elaborate Conspiracy

In this intricate conspiracy, Ogbeide served as the leading figure, coordinating and communicating with his co-conspirators and co-defendants on the fraudulent accounts to which the ill-gotten funds would be directed. He also oversaw the distribution of these funds among the various participants in the conspiracy. Ogbeide admitted to his involvement in the fraudulent activities, which amounted to between $3.5 million and $9.5 million.

Post-Prison Plans for Ogbeide

Upon completion of his prison term, Ogbeide is expected to serve an additional three years under supervised release. The US judicial system does not offer parole. Furthermore, the court ordered him to pay $1.5 million in reparations to the 16 identified victims.

Announcement and Investigation

The announcement was made by Richard D. Westphal, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa. The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation into this case.