Two Nigerian-Born Men Sentenced To Prison For Laundering Millions Of Dollars In Criminal Proceeds
2025-11-18 · Press release
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Two Nigerian-born men were sentenced to prison today for laundering millions of dollars in criminal proceeds that were derived from fraud schemes targeting hundreds of victims, announced Russ Ferguson, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
James C. Barnacle, Jr. Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in North Carolina, joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement.
Olumide Olorunfunmi, 40, and Emmanuel Unuigbe, 43, were each sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. In addition to the prison terms imposed, they were each ordered to pay more than $4.6 million in restitution.
According to court documents and court proceedings, from 2020 through 2023, Olorunfunmi conspired with Unuigbe and others to launder the criminal proceeds of various illegal activities, including romance scams that typically targeted elderly victims and business email compromise schemes. Court records show that the victims of the schemes were directed to transfer funds into domestic and international bank accounts controlled by Olorunfunmi, Unuigbe, and their co-conspirators. Upon receiving the fraud proceeds, Olorunfunmi, Unigibe, and their co-conspirators transferred the funds to other bank accounts, in the U.S. and overseas. Court documents show that the scheme caused more than 125 victims to transfer over $4.5 million of proceeds stemming from illegal activities.
Olorunfunmi and Unuigbe profited by keeping a portion of the criminal proceeds obtained through the schemes. They also profited by agreeing to “pay” for the domestic deposits received by others by transferring Nigerian Naira from accounts the co-conspirators controlled in Nigeria to other accounts in Nigeria, based upon a “black market” exchange rate for United States Dollars to Naira.
Olorunfunmi and Unuigbe previously pleaded guilty. A related individual, Samson Amos, was also sentenced today for his role in conspiring to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business. He was sentenced to five years of probation that included a six-month period of home confinement. He was also ordered to pay restitution.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the FBI for the investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel Ryan with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.
- district_office
- Western District of North Carolina
- usa_name
- Russ Ferguson
- event_type
- sentencing
- judge_name
- judge_title
- case_number
- max_penalty_text
- sentence_summary
- 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release
- money_amounts
- $4.6 million, $4.5 million
- crypto_assets
- statutes_json
- [null]
- timeline_json
- {"sentencing_date": "2025-11-22"}
- press_release_url
- https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdnc/pr/two-nigerian-born-men-sentenced-prison-laundering-millions-dollars-criminal-proceeds
- extras_json
| participant_id | name | role | title | organization | location | age | nationality | status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3840 | Russ Ferguson | prosecutor | U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney's Office | Western District of North Carolina | |||
| 3841 | James C. Barnacle, Jr. | prosecutor | Special Agent in Charge | Federal Bureau of Investigation | North Carolina | |||
| 3842 | Olumide Olorunfunmi | defendant | 40 | Nigerian | sentenced | |||
| 3843 | Emmanuel Unuigbe | defendant | 43 | Nigerian | sentenced | |||
| 3844 | Samson Amos | defendant | sentenced | |||||
| 3845 | Daniel Ryan | prosecutor | Assistant U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney's Office | Charlotte |
| agency_id | agency_name | abbreviation | role | office_location | agents_mentioned | contribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2398 | Federal Bureau of Investigation | FBI | investigation | North Carolina | James C. Barnacle, Jr. | Investigated the case |
| 2399 | U.S. Attorney's Office | USAO | prosecution | Western District of North Carolina | Russ Ferguson, Daniel Ryan | Prosecuted the case |
| charge_id | charge_description | statute | severity | max_penalty | fine_amount | defendant | status | participant_id | cl_docket_id | count_num | is_1960 | verified_1960 | source | updated_at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2133 | Money Laundering | $4.6 million | Olumide Olorunfunmi | pleaded guilty | 0 | enrichment | ||||||||
| 2134 | Money Laundering | $4.6 million | Emmanuel Unuigbe | pleaded guilty | 0 | enrichment | ||||||||
| 2135 | Operating an Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business | Samson Amos | convicted | 0 | enrichment |
| fin_id | action_type | amount | currency | description | asset_type | defendant | status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1762 | restitution | $4.6 million | USD | restitution to victims | cash | Olumide Olorunfunmi | ordered |
| 1763 | restitution | $4.6 million | USD | restitution to victims | cash | Emmanuel Unuigbe | ordered |
| 1764 | restitution | null | null | restitution to victims | cash | Samson Amos | ordered |
| victim_id | victim_type | description | number_affected | loss_amount | geographic_scope | vulnerability_factors | impact_description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1048 | individual | victims of romance scams and business email compromise schemes | 125 | 4500000 | elderly | transferred over $4.5 million of proceeds stemming from illegal activities |
| quote_id | quote_text | speaker_name | speaker_title | speaker_organization | quote_type | context | significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3494 | Two Nigerian-born men were sentenced to prison today for laundering millions of dollars in criminal proceeds that were derived from fraud schemes targeting hundreds of victims | Russ Ferguson | U.S. Attorney | U.S. Department of Justice | statement | Announcing the sentencing of two Nigerian-born men | Provides the main news of the press release |
| 3495 | James C. Barnacle, Jr. Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in North Carolina, joins U.S. Attorney Ferguson in making today’s announcement. | null | null | null | null | null | null |
| 3496 | In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Ferguson thanked the FBI for the investigation of the case. | Russ Ferguson | U.S. Attorney | U.S. Department of Justice | statement | Acknowledging the FBI's role in the investigation | Highlights the collaborative effort in the case |
| theme_id | theme_name | description | significance | related_statutes | geographic_scope | temporal_aspects | stakeholders |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2850 | Money Laundering | Olorunfunmi and Unuigbe conspired to launder millions of dollars in criminal proceeds derived from fraud schemes, including romance scams and business email compromise schemes. | The laundering of criminal proceeds is a central aspect of the case, involving the movement of funds through domestic and international bank accounts. | 18 U.S.C. § 1956, 18 U.S.C. § 1957 | International | Recent development | Law enforcement, Victims, Financial institutions |
| 2851 | Fraud Schemes | The defendants were involved in various fraud schemes, including romance scams targeting elderly victims and business email compromise schemes. | These schemes were the source of the criminal proceeds that were laundered, making them a crucial part of the case. | 18 U.S.C. § 1343, 18 U.S.C. § 1344 | International | Recent development | Law enforcement, Victims, Financial institutions |
| 2852 | International Cooperation | The case involved the transfer of funds to and from Nigeria, indicating international cooperation in the investigation and prosecution. | International cooperation is essential for tracking and prosecuting transnational crimes. | null | International | Recent development | Law enforcement, Financial institutions |
| 2853 | Restitution | The defendants were ordered to pay more than $4.6 million in restitution to the victims of the fraud schemes. | Restitution is a key component of the sentencing, aiming to compensate the victims for their losses. | 18 U.S.C. § 3663A | National | Recent development | Victims, Law enforcement |
| 2854 | Unlicensed Money Transmitting | A related individual, Samson Amos, was sentenced for operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. | This aspect highlights the broader scope of financial crimes involved in the case. | 18 U.S.C. § 1960 | National | Recent development | Law enforcement, Financial institutions |
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