Fraud: Nigerian faces 20 years jail in US

A Nigerian man, Kenneth Godwin, is at risk of a 20-year imprisonment following his indictment in a wire and computer-related fraud scheme targeting a casino business in South Dakota, United States of America.

The indictment was announced by the US District Attorney, Ron Parsons, on Thursday.

Parsons disclosed that a federal grand jury indicted Godwin in March 2026 on charges bordering on conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and unauthorised access to a protected computer in furtherance of fraud.

He noted that between May 2023 and March 2026, Godwin, who is believed to have been residing in Nigeria at the time, conspired with others to embezzle funds from the Prairie Wind Casino & Hotel.

The statement read, “United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that in March 2026, a federal grand jury indicted Kenneth Godwin, a Nigerian man, for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Wire Fraud, and Unauthorised Access to a Protected Computer in Furtherance of Fraud.

“Between May 2023 and March 2026, Godwin, while believed to be living in Nigeria, conspired with others to embezzle funds from the Prairie Wind Casino & Hotel in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, in order to enrich themselves.”

According to him, the offences carry a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, supervised release, and possible restitution if convicted.

He noted that the charges were merely accusations, and the accused is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Speaking on the indictment, Parsons commended the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

“No agency on earth is better at this than the FBI. They will track down those who steal from and commit fraud against the people of the United States wherever those offenders may be,” Parsons said.

Also reacting, the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Minneapolis Field Office, Christopher Dotson, described the case as an example of an international business email compromise scheme.

Dotson stated that the alleged fraud caused substantial financial losses to a business owned and operated by the Oglala Sioux Tribe on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

“This indictment is an example of how the FBI operates every day to dismantle and disrupt criminal enterprises in Indian Country and across the United States that target businesses and citizens in communities,” he was quoted as saying.

PUNCH Metro reported that on May 1, three Nigerians, William Elvis, Moses Hezekiah, and Destiny Oghentega, were charged in a US federal court in Rhode Island over their alleged involvement in an online romance and wire fraud scheme.

A statement obtained on the Department of Justice’s website had indicated that the suspects were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.(Punch)