A 35-year-old Nigerian man is facing a potential 20-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to orchestrating a fraudulent scheme that cost a Plattsburgh produce importer nearly $160,000.
United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, along with Erin Keegan, Special Agent in Charge of the Buffalo Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), announced the guilty plea on Thursday.
Lotenna Chisom Umeadi admitted to two counts of wire fraud after gaining unauthorized access to email accounts belonging to employees of a Sri Lankan produce exporter. Umeadi purchased access to a webpage from a hacker, enabling him to obtain email passwords. Using this access, he impersonated the Sri Lankan company and sent deceptive emails to a Plattsburgh-based produce importer. These emails fraudulently directed the company to transfer payments to bank accounts in the United Kingdom under Umeadi’s control. As a result, the victim wired $158,400 in two transactions during 2016.
Umeadi was apprehended on September 1, 2024, by German authorities upon arrival from Nigeria. Following his arrest, he was extradited to the United States to face charges.
His sentencing is scheduled for July 21, where he could receive a maximum of 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and three years of supervised release. Additionally, Umeadi will be deported after serving his sentence.
Homeland Security Investigations led the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas Collyer prosecuting, supported by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of International Affairs.
