He owned a hip hop record label and he lived the high life of luxury hotels, gambling, strippers and bling. But behind the glitz and the glamour Tobechi Enyinna Onwuhara was one of the FBI's most wanted men, allegedly a fraudster who scammed at least $44 million through cyber crimes.
But the sophisticated con artist, who fled Florida in August 2008 amid an intense FBI investigation, has been caught in Sydney and sent back to the US to face a string of fraud charges.

Nigerian-born Tobechi Onwuhara, 33, was "provisionally arrested in response to a request from the United States Government" in December last year, according to a spokeswoman for the Australian Attorney-General's department.
A spokeswoman for the AG's department said Mr Onwuhara is to face prosecution in the US for fraud related offences, including identity fraud and computer fraud.

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"On January 29, the Minister for Justice [Jason Clare] made a determination to surrender Mr Onwuhara to the US.
"As a matter of long standing practice, the Australian government does not comment on operational matters," she said.
Fairfax Media understands Mr Onwuhara had been living it up in Sydney after disappearing in August 2008.
The FBI's website now lists Mr Onwuhara as captured, but with scant detail of the arrest. They were offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
The source who tipped off Fairfax said Mr Onwuhara had been making regular trips to The Star casino as well as splashing cash at numerous popular nightclubs.
"He would bet at the Star under a different name, he was a regular, then one day he just disappeared and someone told us he wanted by the FBI," a source said.

A spokeswoman for Echo entertainment, owner of The Star, did not return calls and emails. The US Consulate in Sydney also did not return calls.

An Australian Federal Police spokesman confirmed the AFP arrested Mr Onwuhara.

According to the FBI's most wanted list. Mr Onwuhara is wanted for his alleged involvement in an elaborate scheme that defrauded the financial industry out of tens of millions of dollars.
"Onwuhara is a key member of a group of Nigerians who allegedly have been conducting fraudulent banking activities from Florida and Texas, since 2005," the FBI's most wanted website states.
"It is alleged that the group has been using online internet databases to steal victims' identities.
"Once acquired, they allegedly use the victims' information to gain access to the victims' 'Home Equity Line of Credit' accounts and wire transfer the money to accounts mainly located overseas, some in the United States."
Some of Onwuhara's alleged co-conspirators have been arrested, inside and outside of the United States, the FBI's website states.
Onwuhara was charged federally with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and a federal warrant was issued for his arrest by the US District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, on August 1, 2008.


Source: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/one-of-fbis-most-wanted-caught-living-it-large-in-sydney-20130218-2en72.html

P.S: Moderate, i'm sorry if i posted this in the wrong section, cant seem to figure the right section to place it.

This is an old story? No?

So the looooong arm of the law finally caught this dude? He should have kept a low profile after fleeing the US. Should have played the fugitive part to perfection and outsmarted the FBI, like in the movies. . .grow a long beard, do a facial plastic surgery, and assume a new identity somewhere in Brazil.

Guess he'll be in jail for a very very long time. Game over.

Guy na life imprisonment dey wait for you ... u've enjoyed the money now you must pay the price ....

Heard about this guy yesterday. Heard he gambled away more than $300,000 in different casinos in sydney. Ole

As much as i do not adore his klepto practices, yet i wonder why he couldn't just go underground never to be heard of again. Well since he couldn't lay-low on his own (knowing-fully well that he is on the most wanted list) the FBI will be helping him out on that. He'll be laying low in jail for a very very long time.

Na wa 4 waec.

nawa oo. why he no come naija. pipe low n invest his stolen monies. so sorry for him.

Common yahoo yahoo, he made it big time. U guys help me warn up coming yahoo yahoo boys to give up and turn a new leaf. The end is always shameful

It's a pity!

Omg he has been caught. Men this guy was on the top list with Osama bin laden then during bush era.wow I thought he would never be caught as the case will go cold. Wow

a god in yahoo world.
a genius in an evil perspective.
all good things come to an end...

Well let's look on the bright side for once lol, he must be very smart Well let's look on the bright side for once lol, he must be very smart

O boi is there anyone these people can't find ni? on that note i dey luk for my dog, skibobo, went missing 14yrs ago pls help me find it

alpha conde: Common yahoo yahoo, he made it big time. U guys help me warn up coming yahoo yahoo boys to give up and turn a new leaf. The end is always shameful

they hustle out of a hopelessne$$, desperation.
you can only imagine.

Eya. Sorry 4 u.time Up. U shd ve slayd down d Hedonistic Lifestyle and Pyped Low. Too BAD

This guy was so stupid, he should have cone to his village to build a mansion and lay low. Over sabi mumu.

tunapawizzy: $44 milllion ?? its worth d whole stress....I salute d dude's courage

that guy must be a genius, wishing I could learn from him but not to scam innocent people.

He was in my elder brother's class at Government College, Umuahia. The guy has always been a smart thief.

Maga no pay anymore. Pure casting

pro01: So the looooong arm of the law finally caught this dude? He should have kept a low profile after fleeing the US. Should have played the fugitive part to perfection and outsmarted the FBI, like in the movies. . .grow a long beard, do a facial plastic surgery, and assume a new identity somewhere in Brazil.

Guess he'll be in jail for a very very long time. Game over.

you can say that again

Liberal2020:

He laid low for 5 years brother. Isn't that enough...

blink182: This guy was so stupid, he should have cone to his village to build a mansion and lay low. Over sabi mumu.

@ liberal,Lying low doesn't mix with bling,fast cars,strippers,casino gambling and the fast life


@ blink,before he was declared wanted in America,he had built a mansion in the East which they traced out.
Tobechi's vices -women&the fast life- has always been his downfall
In America firstly and now in Australia
Not that I support Tobechi's life choices yet like 2Pac said,do what you got to do but know you gotta change trying to find a way outta the game
Tobechi was addicted to the game
Why not disappear to Russia, China, Macao or one exotic paradise in Asia
And some bic#es said he's smart?!
Cant remember the Russian emperor who said the toughest battle to win IS TO CONQUER SELF
That man was so on point

playboy19: As much as i do not adore his klepto practices, yet i wonder why he couldn't just go underground never to be heard of again. Well since he couldn't lay-low on his own (knowing-fully well that he is on the most wanted list) the FBI will be helping him out on that. He'll be laying low in jail for a very very long time.

He laid low for 5 years brother. Isn't that enough...

some peeps have been watching too many movies

hide in brazil, do plastic surgery, go undercover . .

you think its easy to give up the baller lifestyle

for where

the guy just go and sit some where, no more gambling, no more skin on skin with hot chicks, no more playa lifestyle
the guy no fit

and the fbi interpol etal never forget

hahaha....mehn dis guy is d real G-LORD,dis one no be say them say...bt am sori ur game is over

dis tobechi na proper mugu, hm 4 cme owr cme relax enjoy his money nd even join polities abi na casino wey no dey O town? Every every dey. Smh 4 onwuhara.