Nigerian Pleads Guilty to $405,000 U.S. Romance Scam

A 40-year-old Nigerian man, Daniel Chima Inweregbu, has admitted his role in a romance scam that defrauded several American women of more than $405,000, according to U.S. prosecutors.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana announced that Inweregbu entered a guilty plea on August 21, 2025, before Chief Judge Nanette Jolivette Brown. Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson confirmed the development in an official statement released on Thursday.

Court documents show that Inweregbu, along with unnamed co-conspirators, carried out the scheme between July 2017 and December 2018. At the center of their operation was a fictitious online persona known as “Larry Pham,” which was used to target unsuspecting women on dating websites and social media platforms. By posing as this fabricated character, the group established relationships with their victims, ultimately convincing them to part with large sums of money.

The statement from prosecutors described how the fraud ring “devised and operated a romance scam whereby they sought to obtain money and property from multiple American women, including four victims, by means of false and fraudulent representations and promises.” Once trust had been built, the victims were persuaded to transfer money into bank accounts controlled by the conspirators.

Authorities explained that the funds were then laundered through intermediaries in order to conceal their origin and ownership. This added layer of complexity, investigators said, was designed to disguise the true nature of the illicit proceeds and distance the defendants from the crimes.

According to prosecutors, the fraudulent activities resulted in actual and intended losses exceeding $405,000. Inweregbu and his partners not only manipulated their victims emotionally but also engaged in deliberate efforts to hide the flow of money. The official statement noted, “Thereafter, Inweregbu and his co-conspirators laundered the funds, by conducting financial transactions using the proceeds of their wire and mail fraud scheme, designed in whole or in part to conceal and disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the proceeds, by directing the victims’ funds through intermediaries.”

By entering the guilty plea, Inweregbu now faces a potentially lengthy prison term. For the charge of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, he could be sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in prison. This count also carries the possibility of three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. On the money laundering charge, the penalties are equally severe: another 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine that could reach $500,000. He also faces mandatory special assessment fees.

Sentencing in the case has been scheduled for December 4, 2025. On that date, the court will determine the exact punishment, taking into consideration the severity of the crimes, the financial harm inflicted on victims, and the role Inweregbu played in orchestrating the scheme.

Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation for spearheading the investigation. He also acknowledged the assistance of the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and the U.S. Department of State, both of which supported the probe. Their combined efforts, he said, underscore the federal government’s determination to pursue fraudsters who exploit vulnerable victims for financial gain.

Although the court documents did not specify how many individuals were involved in the broader conspiracy, the guilty plea highlights the growing reach of romance scams in the United States and the challenges authorities face in prosecuting them. By using fake identities online, perpetrators prey on the emotional needs of their victims, often exploiting loneliness and trust to secure financial transfers.

For the women targeted in this particular scheme, the consequences were not just financial but also deeply personal. The deception went beyond money, affecting their sense of trust and leaving them to grapple with the betrayal once the scam was uncovered. Prosecutors emphasized that the victims were persuaded to believe in false promises of companionship and partnership, only to be manipulated into sending away their savings.

The Justice Department has consistently warned U.S. citizens about the dangers of online romance fraud, urging them to remain cautious when forming relationships on the internet. This case, officials said, is a reminder that such schemes can be highly organized, transnational, and financially devastating.

Inweregbu’s guilty plea means he has admitted responsibility for his role in the scheme, but the final decision on sentencing rests with the court. Legal experts note that while federal judges have broad discretion, they are guided by sentencing guidelines that consider factors such as the scale of the fraud, the number of victims, and whether the defendant has accepted responsibility. If the maximum penalties are applied, Inweregbu could spend decades in a U.S. federal prison.

The case adds to a growing list of prosecutions targeting romance scams, which have become increasingly common in recent years. By focusing on emotional manipulation, these schemes exploit the vulnerabilities of victims while generating significant profits for perpetrators. In this instance, prosecutors have made clear that the losses—both actual and intended—exceeded $405,000, a figure that underscores the financial scale of the crime.

As the December sentencing date approaches, attention will turn to the court’s final judgment. For the victims, it represents an opportunity for justice and closure after years of deception and financial loss. For Inweregbu, it will mark the culmination of a legal process that began years ago when he and his partners created the false identity of “Larry Pham” and launched a scheme that spanned multiple states and platforms.

Whether or not the sentence reaches the maximum penalties available, the case serves as a warning to those who might consider engaging in similar crimes. Federal authorities have made clear that romance scams will not be tolerated and that perpetrators, regardless of nationality, will face prosecution when caught.