Nigerian Man Pleads Guilty in US to $2.5m Sextortion and Romance Fraud Scheme

A 35-year-old Nigerian national, Olamide Shanu, has pleaded guilty in a United States court to conspiracy to commit money laundering linked to sextortion and romance-fraud schemes. US authorities said the operation targeted about 150 victims and generated more than $2.5 million in proceeds. Investigators said victims were pressured for money through threats to share private images, while others were deceived through fake online romantic relationships. The funds were allegedly moved through peer-to-peer payment services and cryptocurrency wallets before being sent to co-conspirators in Nigeria. Shanu was extradited from the United Kingdom in 2025 and is due to be sentenced on December 15. He faces up to 20 years in prison.

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