德克萨斯州五人以恋爱等骗局盗走至少1,700万美元 合计被判近160年监禁
2025年6月16日，位于德克萨斯州格雷森县谢尔曼市的联邦法院对五名被告量刑：他们以恋爱诈骗、商业电邮诈骗、投资诈骗与失业保险诈骗等多种骗局，从全球至少100名个人、公司与政府实体手中骗走约1,700万美元，五人刑期合计近160年。
联邦地区法官 Amos L. Mazzant III 当日量刑。Damilola Kumapayi，39岁，住在普莱诺市，对共谋电汇诈骗认罪，被判109个月；Sandra Iribhogbe Popnen，50岁，住在普莱诺市，对共谋电汇诈骗与共谋洗钱认罪，被判365个月；Edgal Iribhogbe，51岁，住在艾伦市，经审判被定罪，被判480个月；Chidindu Okeke，32岁，住在休斯顿市，经审判被定罪，被判480个月；Chiagoziem Okeke，32岁，住在休斯顿市，经审判被定罪，被判480个月。
法庭信息显示，自2017年1月前后起，被告以多种骗局牟利，专门以老年人为目标，包括利用网络交友网站设下恋爱骗局。得手后，他们通过一个银行账户网络清洗赃款，并把钱汇往非洲与亚洲的账户、同谋与企业。
代理联邦检察官 Jay R. Combs 说，针对老年人与弱势群体血汗积蓄的跨国犯罪团伙令人不齿，美国司法体系追索这类骗徒没有限度。联邦调查局达拉斯办公室负责人 R. Joseph Rothrock 说，部分受害者失去的是一生的积蓄。国税局刑事调查局达拉斯办公室负责人 Christopher J. Altemus Jr. 说，五人合计近160年的刑期显示执法部门追责的决心。
此案由联邦调查局达拉斯办公室、国土安全调查局、卫生与公共服务部监察长办公室、国税局刑事调查局、劳工部监察长办公室、国务院外交安全局、邮政检查局与美国公民及移民服务局等机构调查。此案是司法部「夺回美国」行动的一部分。
（来源：美国司法部）
Five Sentenced in Texas for Fraud Schemes, Including Romance Scams, That Stole at Least $17 Million
On June 16, 2025, a federal court in Sherman, a city in Grayson County, Texas, sentenced five defendants who had used romance scams, business email compromise, investor fraud, and unemployment insurance fraud to obtain about $17 million from at least 100 individuals, companies, and government entities around the world. Their sentences total nearly 160 years.
U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant III imposed the sentences that day. Damilola Kumapayi, 39, of Plano, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and was sentenced to 109 months. Sandra Iribhogbe Popnen, 50, of Plano, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud and conspiring to commit money laundering and was sentenced to 365 months. Edgal Iribhogbe, 51, of Allen, was found guilty at trial and was sentenced to 480 months. Chidindu Okeke, 32, of Houston, was found guilty at trial and was sentenced to 480 months. Chiagoziem Okeke, 32, of Houston, was found guilty at trial and was sentenced to 480 months.
According to information presented in court, beginning around January 2017, the defendants ran a multitude of schemes that specifically targeted elderly people, including romance scams on online dating sites. Once they obtained the money, they laundered it through a network of bank accounts and sent it to accounts, co-conspirators, and businesses in Africa and Asia.
Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs said transnational organized criminals who target the hard-earned savings of elderly and vulnerable people are despicable, and that the long arm of the American justice system has no limits in reaching such fraudsters. R. Joseph Rothrock, special agent in charge of the FBI's Dallas office, said that for some victims the money was their life savings. Christopher J. Altemus Jr. of IRS Criminal Investigation's Dallas office said the collective sentences of nearly 160 years reflect law enforcement's resolve.
The case was investigated by the FBI's Dallas office, Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, IRS Criminal Investigation, the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, the State Department's Diplomatic Security Service, the Postal Inspection Service, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, among others. The case is part of the Justice Department's Operation Take Back America.
(Source: U.S. Department of Justice)
来源：美国司法部
发布：GSM·美国（发布链接）
图片来源：图：位于谢尔曼市的 Paul Brown 联邦大楼与美国法院，入口可见法院名牌。Michael Barera 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: The Paul Brown Federal Building and United States Courthouse in Sherman, with the courthouse name visible at the entrance. Photo by Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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