₦airaland Forum

Nigerian businessman Invictus Obi released from U.S. prison, faces deportation after serving five-year fraud sentence

The U.S. Bureau of Prisons has released Nigerian serial fraudster and businessman, Invictus Obi Okeke, after spending six years in jail for scamming America-based businesses of $11 million between 2015 and 2019.

Mr Okeke, arrested in 2019, was no longer in custody as of Wednesday with arrangements for his deportation to Nigeria underway as stipulated in his guilty plea agreement.

FBI agents arrested Mr Okeke in August 2019 at the Dulles International Airport in Virginia where he had booked a flight to return to Nigeria.

He was tried and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in February 2021 but released on Wednesday, seemingly benefitting from the first-step prison reform policy that President Donald Trump signed into law in his first term.

The reform shortened sentences for offenders based on adherence to certain standing behavioural rules. The fraudster is believed to have qualified under the policy.

He was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit computer fraud. Mr Okeke stole the login credentials of Unatrac Holding Limited, a company that exports Caterpillar industrial machinery, and intercepted emails to divert payments. He dubiously pocketed approximately $11 million.

Investigations by the FBI revealed that Mr Okeke masterminded a computer hacking scheme, compromising emails to rob unsuspecting victims of millions of dollars.

“Through subterfuge and impersonation, Obinwanne Okeke engaged in a multi-year global business email and computer hacking scheme that caused a staggering $11 million in losses to his victims,” a statement by Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, stated in 2021.

The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court issued an order for the temporary forfeiture of over N280 million in Mr Okeke’s Nigerian bank accounts.

Mr Okeke, 38, before his criminal activities came to light, was celebrated in the Forbes 30-under-30 section in 2016 as one of Africa’s most promising entrepreneurs.

Described as the founder of Invictus Group with a humble background, Forbes said Mr Okeke named his company “after one of Nelson Mandela’s favorite poems, by William Ernest Henley, about the undefeated and unconquerable soul of a hard worker, from an impoverished background, who will not give up.”

Forbes praised Mr Okeke for his investment in construction, agriculture, oil and gas, telecoms and real estate.

Source: Peoples Gazette

Do the crime...

Hope you've turned over a new leaf.

He should link up with Donald Trump! He could get a presidential pardon

Old taker, hope you no go start to dust your phone book for you know you know?

He spent up to five years? Where is his recent picture?

Hushpuppi might come home next year. If not, 2027 is sure.

Sothelo:
Nigerian businessman Invictus Obi released from U.S. prison, faces deportation after serving five-year fraud sentence

The U.S. Bureau of Prisons has released Nigerian serial fraudster and businessman, Invictus Obi Okeke, after spending six years in jail for scamming America-based businesses of $11 million between 2015 and 2019.

Mr Okeke, arrested in 2019, was no longer in custody as of Wednesday with arrangements for his deportation to Nigeria underway as stipulated in his guilty plea agreement.

FBI agents arrested Mr Okeke in August 2019 at the Dulles International Airport in Virginia where he had booked a flight to return to Nigeria.

He was tried and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in February 2021 but released on Wednesday, seemingly benefitting from the first-step prison reform policy that President Donald Trump signed into law in his first term.

The reform shortened sentences for offenders based on adherence to certain standing behavioural rules. The fraudster is believed to have qualified under the policy.

He was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit computer fraud. Mr Okeke stole the login credentials of Unatrac Holding Limited, a company that exports Caterpillar industrial machinery, and intercepted emails to divert payments. He dubiously pocketed approximately $11 million.

Investigations by the FBI revealed that Mr Okeke masterminded a computer hacking scheme, compromising emails to rob unsuspecting victims of millions of dollars.

“Through subterfuge and impersonation, Obinwanne Okeke engaged in a multi-year global business email and computer hacking scheme that caused a staggering $11 million in losses to his victims,” a statement by Raj Parekh, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, stated in 2021.

The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court issued an order for the temporary forfeiture of over N280 million in Mr Okeke’s Nigerian bank accounts.

Mr Okeke, 38, before his criminal activities came to light, was celebrated in the Forbes 30-under-30 section in 2016 as one of Africa’s most promising entrepreneurs.

Described as the founder of Invictus Group with a humble background, Forbes said Mr Okeke named his company “after one of Nelson Mandela’s favorite poems, by William Ernest Henley, about the undefeated and unconquerable soul of a hard worker, from an impoverished background, who will not give up.”

Forbes praised Mr Okeke for his investment in construction, agriculture, oil and gas, telecoms and real estate.

BY Peoples Gazette

He's a nairalander with Monika INVICTUS

Spoiling and soiling the image of genuine, hardworking Nigerian youths looking for opportunity

https://www.nairaland.com/5383964/fbi-arrested-invictus-obi-airport
5 years don waka true true. Now he can go and enjoy the loot he stashed away without disturbance. Sometimes crime does pay

Don't attempt to post censored words by misspelling them.
16. Don't promote shady investments like HYIP, MLM on Nairaland.

Welcome back motigbetional speaker

5yrs be like yesterday

Hushpuppi will be out very soon too

At least, he served his term but Tinupoo evaded arrest and foist himself on a nation even though they committed almost the same crime

Hushpuppy next. They have done their terms. Hope they don't return to same habits and the new gen ones learn to stop the scamming habit.

Wow…. It’s already 5 years? I remember his case trending on Nairaland just like yesterday. He was tracked through his comment on nairaland and then caught.

COMRADES, is it not that dude who was spraying dollar bill that year? See how time flies

I hope say him still get 30billion stacked somewhere in the soakaway.

Woww ... I never expected his sentence to be short but it's great he is out. Hopefully he turns a new leaf and begin his life on a good note

There's hope for hushpuppi

Invictus Obi, you're welcome to Nigeria's political space
I look forward to seeing your campaign posters for the 2027 election

christejames:
At least, he served his term but Tinupoo evaded arrest and foist himself on a nation even though they committed almost the same crime

If u have nothing meaningful to say, please just remain silent.

Even a clown is deemed to be intelligent, when he remains silent.

I wonder how much of the loot he still has left.

There remains Hushpuppi

The forbes 30 under 30 that year masquerading his fraud background. Hope the ex convict has learned his lesson and would do legit hustle when he returns

See as dem go de hail am when e enter naija ...naija youths are finished

It's usually not that quick for him to be deported. He still has restitution to make, supervised release/parole. That still takes time before he gets deported.

5 years don reach?

Hope they collect all the money he amassed fraudulently to the last penny!

Motivational speaker during the day online scammer at night.

Sothelo:
Source: Peoples Gazette

Forbes should hide their faces in shame

Do the crime do the time I hope he has learnt his lesson

dominique:
https://www.nairaland.com/5383964/fbi-arrested-invictus-obi-airport
5 years don waka true true. Now he can go and enjoy the loot he stashed away without disturbance. Sometimes crime does pay

Enjoy which loots?. You mean US left the monies in his account to come back and spend it after his release from jail?. You dey fall hand sha.

Just like yesterday. Like play like play, 5 years don complete.

dominique:
https://www.nairaland.com/5383964/fbi-arrested-invictus-obi-airport
5 years don waka true true. Now he can go and enjoy the loot he stashed away without disturbance. Sometimes crime does pay

Hian, you have started again ooooooooo with your savage response, CRIME PAYS KE, no ooooooooooooooooo, crime is not good ooooooooo

Before he was caught, this guy was always invited on programs to motivate youth. about his success as a young person.

I hope Nigeria efcc won't pick him up for offense committed outside which he's already served it's punishment.

Neither do I condemn you. Invictus, go and sin no more 😎