A Nigerian-American businessman, Omoyoma Okoro, who is currently serving a 100-month prison sentence for his role in an $80 million fraud scheme, is now facing fresh charges that could land him an additional 30 years behind bars. According to a statement obtained from the US Department of Justice website, Okoro is alleged to have obtained US citizenship fraudulently.
Okoro was sentenced in September 2024 by a US District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania for conspiracy to commit mail, wire, and bank fraud. He was also convicted of two additional counts of wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, and one count of bank fraud. The court ordered him to pay over $22 million in restitution.
The allegations of citizenship fraud stem from Okoro’s application for naturalization as a US citizen in 2018. During the application process, Okoro was asked if he had committed or aided any crime before, to which he responded negatively. However, it was discovered that Okoro had committed the offences for which he was jailed between 2008 and 2011, before he applied for citizenship.
If convicted, Okoro faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, in addition to the automatic revocation of his US citizenship. The charges are contained in a three-count indictment with naturalisation fraud.
This is not an isolated case, as there have been recent reports of Nigerians being convicted and sentenced for various crimes in the US. In June, a Nigerian, Kingsley Utulu, was sentenced to five years and three months in prison for his role in a large-scale hacking and identity theft scheme that defrauded the US tax authorities and private individuals of over $2.5 million.
The case of Omoyoma Okoro serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of committing crimes and providing false information to obtain citizenship. If convicted, Okoro’s citizenship will be revoked, and he will face additional time in prison. The US Department of Justice is committed to prosecuting individuals who engage in fraudulent activities, including those who lie on their citizenship applications.
