A Nigerian national who orchestrated an international wire fraud and money laundering scheme has been sentenced to 90 months in federal prison.
James Junior Aliyu was handed the seven-and-a-half-year sentence following his extradition from South Africa to face charges in a United States courtroom.
Beyond his prison term, Aliyu faces a massive financial penalty for his crimes.
A federal judge issued a $1.2 million forfeiture order and mandated $2.4 million in restitution to be paid to the victims of his schemes.
The investigation revealed that Aliyu spearheaded a conspiracy to hack into business email servers, a tactic known as Business Email Compromise (BEC).
By gaining unauthorised access to corporate accounts, Aliyu and his co-conspirators intercepted communications and diverted massive sums of money into accounts under their control.
The operation was a global effort, requiring seamless coordination between domestic and international law enforcement.
ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents from both the Maryland and South Africa field offices led the charge, tracking Aliyu across continents until his eventual capture and extradition.
Officials noted that Aliyu’s role was central to a conspiracy that drained millions from businesses, highlighting the growing threat of international hacking rings.
After the completion of his 90-month sentence, he will be subject to immediate removal from the United States.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
