The United States of America has vowed to use all its available legal tools to bring justice on those committing cyber-enabled fraud in the country or victimizing its citizens.
The country legal office said the cyber fraud schemes victimize United States’ vulnerable citizens and cost taxpayers billions of dollars each year.
Chief federal law enforcement officer in the Western District of Texas, Attorney Ashley C. Hoff said this during a court session on Wednesday while prosecuting a Nigerian national, Olumide Bankole Morakinyo.
Morakinyo was sentenced to eight years in prison and ordered to repay $975,863.
“This Defendant’s scheme and those like it victimize our most vulnerable citizens and cost taxpayers billions each year. Our office will use all of the available legal tools to identify and bring to justice those who commit cyber-enabled fraud and launder the proceeds,” Hoff vowed.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation, U.S Special Agent Richard Goss pledged to continue to pursue criminals who prey on innocent victims, stealing their identities to promote tax and other frauds.
“Today’s sentencing of Olumide Morakinyo highlights how seriously IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS CI) and our law enforcement partners take the issue of identity theft, This sentencing should send a clear message to would-be criminals, that you will be caught and you will be punished,” Goss said.
However, the FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs thank the United States Attorney’s Office, IRS CI, and Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Texas Rangers Public Integrity Unit for their partnership, dedication and hard work on the case.
“By working together, we were able hold Morakinyo accountable for his role in this fraud scheme, which caused hardship and suffering to victims in Texas and other parts of the United States,” he stated.