Extradited Canadian sentenced for money laundering

William Nneji, a 56-year-old Canadian citizen, has been extradited and sentenced to 40 months in prison by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

According to reports, he was found guilty of conspiring with his brother Chima Nneji, Alex Mgbolu, and others to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering between July 2002 and May 2010.

The conspiracy involved receiving money transfers from victims of international mass marketing fraud, processing them under false names, pooling the illicit funds, and then laundering the proceeds to co-conspirators in the United States and Nigeria.

William Nneji admitted his responsibility for approximately $606,967 in losses to victims, which were processed through two companies, one of which was owned by his brother Chima Nneji, and the other by his wife.

“As part of the sentencing, William Nneji has been ordered to pay $156,615.65 in restitution to the victims,” the reports unveiled.

“The lower restitution amount is attributed, in part, to compensation provided to the victims through the 2012 United States v. MoneyGram deferred prosecution agreement.”

This agreement established a $100 million restitution fund for MoneyGram customers who fell victim to consumer fraud.

Chima Nneji and Alex Mgbolu, who were also charged in the case, had previously pleaded guilty to the same charges and were sentenced to imprisonment in 2016 and 2017, respectively.

Both of them were extradited from Canada to the United States.

In contrast, William Nneji had been a fugitive from the time of his indictment until November 2021.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Ravi Romel Sharma prosecuted the case.