New Orleans, Louisiana – Emmanuel UgbaJa, a 55-year-old resident or Duluth, Georgia pleaded guilty on January 7, 2025 in a federal court in Louisiana to conspiracy to commit money laundering, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. The plea was entered before United States District Judge Darrel James Papillion.
Court documents reveal UgbaJa’s involvement in a scheme that exploited two victims through separate internet scams in 2018. One scam originated in Kansas, where a victim was deceived into sending money to an unknown individual masquerading as a romantic interest, a tactic commonly referred to as a “romance scam.” The other incident took place in California, where another victim was tricked into sending funds to a person posing as an attorney, a situation typically described as an “inheritance scam.”
According to federal prosecutors, the victims were directed by co-conspirators to deposit their funds into a bank account controlled by UgbaJa. He reportedly kept a portion of the funds for personal gain and transferred the remaining amount, totaling $60,000, to a local maritime broker. This transfer was made as a partial payment for an unrelated vessel, indicating the breadth of UgbaJa’s financial misconduct.
Sentencing for UgbaJa is scheduled for April 8, 2025. He faces a potential prison sentence of up to five years. Upon release, he could be subject to an additional three years of supervised release. Additionally, UgbaJa may incur a fine of up to $250,000, or an amount equal to twice the gross gain he received or twice the gross loss incurred by the victims. Furthermore, a mandatory $100 special assessment fee will be imposed.
This case forms part of a broader initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at combating online fraud schemes that frequently originate from overseas, targeting American citizens. The public is urged to report any suspicious online activity to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) through their website at https://www.ic3.gov/.
The United States Attorney’s Office has commended the collaboration with the FBI in this case. The prosecution is being managed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward J. Rivera, who specializes in financial crimes.